CVE-2023-32178

SYSTEM code execution via TelFileTransfer symlink deletion

Published May 3, 2024 · Updated Sep 20, 2024

Local privilege escalation in VIPRE Antivirus Plus allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM through arbitrary file deletion. The TelFileTransfer method follows an attacker-created symbolic link when deleting a file, allowing a protected process to delete an arbitrary target. Low-privileged code execution on the Windows host is required; deleting a security-sensitive file enables execution in the SYSTEM context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.52%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in VIPRE Antivirus Plus allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM through arbitrary file deletion. The TelFileTransfer method follows an attacker-created symbolic link when deleting a file, allowing a protected process to delete an arbitrary target. Low-privileged code execution on the Windows host is required; deleting a security-sensitive file enables execution in the SYSTEM context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-32178
Published
May 3, 2024
Updated
Sep 20, 2024
Vendor
VIPRE
Product
VIPRE Antivirus Plus
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 3, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 20, 2024Record 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=0 <11.0.6.22
  2. Affected versionversion=VIPRE Antivirus Plus v11.0.6.22

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

VIPRE · VIPRE Antivirus Plusversion=0 <11.0.6.22; version=VIPRE Antivirus Plus v11.0.6.22

Published CVSS scores

7.8Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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