CVE-2023-32555

SYSTEM code execution via unlocked file operations

Published Jun 26, 2023 · Updated Dec 4, 2024

TOCTOU race in the Trend Micro Apex One 2019 Security Agent allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. The Apex One Client Plug-in Service Manager performs file operations without proper locking, allowing a checked file to change before use. Exploitation requires existing low-privileged code execution on a Windows endpoint and grants control under the SYSTEM account.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

TOCTOU race in the Trend Micro Apex One 2019 Security Agent allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. The Apex One Client Plug-in Service Manager performs file operations without proper locking, allowing a checked file to change before use. Exploitation requires existing low-privileged code execution on a Windows endpoint and grants control under the SYSTEM account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-32555
Published
Jun 26, 2023
Updated
Dec 4, 2024
Vendor
Trend Micro
Product
Apex One
Classifications
CWE-367, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 26, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 4, 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=2019 <14.0.0.12024

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Trend Micro · Apex Oneversion=2019 <14.0.0.12024

Published CVSS scores

7.8Trend MicroCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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-367Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
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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