CVE-2023-29081

System-file deletion via followed temporary-directory junction

Published Jan 26, 2024 · Updated May 29, 2025

Symlink traversal in Revenera InstallShield Suite Setups built before 2023 R2 allows local users to delete Windows system files. During installation, a standard user can move one of two secured temporary directories and replace it with a junction to Windows system files, which cleanup then follows while deleting the directory and target contents. Standard local credentials and precise timing during Suite Setup installation are required; the damage can prevent Windows from initializing after reboot.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Symlink traversal in Revenera InstallShield Suite Setups built before 2023 R2 allows local users to delete Windows system files. During installation, a standard user can move one of two secured temporary directories and replace it with a junction to Windows system files, which cleanup then follows while deleting the directory and target contents. Standard local credentials and precise timing during Suite Setup installation are required; the damage can prevent Windows from initializing after reboot.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-29081
Published
Jan 26, 2024
Updated
May 29, 2025
Vendor
Revenera
Product
InstallShield
Classifications
CWE-276, CAPEC-132, T1485
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 26, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 29, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2023 R1 <2023 R2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Revenera · InstallShieldversion=2023 R1 <2023 R2

Published CVSS scores

5.5Flexera Software LLCCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-276Incorrect Default Permissions
CAPEC-132Symlink Attack
T1485Data Destruction

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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