CVE-2023-52094

SYSTEM code execution via updater junction

Published Jan 23, 2024 · Updated Jun 20, 2025

Link following in Trend Micro Apex One before 14.0.0.12534 and its SaaS agent before 14.0.12849 allows local users to escalate privileges. The update mechanism follows an attacker-created Windows directory junction when deleting a folder, redirecting the privileged deletion to an arbitrary location. Low-privileged code execution on an affected Windows endpoint is required, after which the attacker can execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.31%
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 Trend Micro Apex One before 14.0.0.12534 and its SaaS agent before 14.0.12849 allows local users to escalate privileges. The update mechanism follows an attacker-created Windows directory junction when deleting a folder, redirecting the privileged deletion to an arbitrary location. Low-privileged code execution on an affected Windows endpoint is required, after which the attacker can execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52094
Published
Jan 23, 2024
Updated
Jun 20, 2025
Vendor
Trend Micro
Product
Trend Micro Apex One
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 23, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 20, 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=2019 (14.0) <14.0.0.12534

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Trend Micro · Trend Micro Apex Oneversion=2019 (14.0) <14.0.0.12534
Trend Micro · Trend Micro Apex One as a Serviceversion=SaaS <14.0.12849

Published CVSS scores

7.0Trend MicroCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 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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