CVE-2023-46814

SYSTEM code execution via uninstaller binary hijacking

Published Nov 22, 2023 · Updated Aug 29, 2024

Binary hijacking in VideoLAN VLC media player 3.0.18 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM on Windows. The NSIS uninstaller loads a binary with elevated privileges from a standard-user-writable location without constraining its search path. Exploitation requires control of that searched location and an explicit run of the provided uninstaller.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.28%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Binary hijacking in VideoLAN VLC media player 3.0.18 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM on Windows. The NSIS uninstaller loads a binary with elevated privileges from a standard-user-writable location without constraining its search path. Exploitation requires control of that searched location and an explicit run of the provided uninstaller.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-46814
Published
Nov 22, 2023
Updated
Aug 29, 2024
Vendor
VideoLAN
Product
VLC media player
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 22, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 29, 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 <3.0.19

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

VideoLAN · VLC media playerversion=0 <3.0.19

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/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-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.001DLL Search Order Hijacking

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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