CVE-2023-42125

SYSTEM code execution via sandbox symbolic link

Published May 3, 2024 · Updated Sep 20, 2024

Link-following in Avast Premium Security 22.12.6044 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM through the sandbox feature. The sandbox service follows an attacker-created symbolic link and creates arbitrary namespace objects at the linked destination. Low-privileged code execution on a Windows host is required, and successful exploitation grants SYSTEM privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Link-following in Avast Premium Security 22.12.6044 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM through the sandbox feature. The sandbox service follows an attacker-created symbolic link and creates arbitrary namespace objects at the linked destination. Low-privileged code execution on a Windows host is required, and successful exploitation grants SYSTEM privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42125
Published
May 3, 2024
Updated
Sep 20, 2024
Vendor
Avast
Product
Avast Premium Security
Classifications
CWE-706, 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=22.12.6044 (build 22.12.7758.769)
  2. Affected versionversion=Avast Premium Security 22.12.6044 (build 22.12.7758.769)

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Avast · Avast Premium Securityversion=22.12.6044 (build 22.12.7758.769); version=Avast Premium Security 22.12.6044 (build 22.12.7758.769)

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-706Use of Incorrectly-Resolved Name or Reference
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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