CVE-2024-13962

SYSTEM code execution via symlink TOCTTOU

Published May 9, 2025 · Updated May 9, 2025

Link following in TuneupSvc in Avast Cleanup Premium 24.2.16593.17810 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. TuneupSvc checks a filesystem path and later uses it without preventing symbolic-link substitution during the intervening TOCTTOU window. A low-privileged Windows 10 Pro x64 user who wins the local race can redirect the privileged service's file access and run attacker-controlled code with SYSTEM privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.22%
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 TuneupSvc in Avast Cleanup Premium 24.2.16593.17810 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. TuneupSvc checks a filesystem path and later uses it without preventing symbolic-link substitution during the intervening TOCTTOU window. A low-privileged Windows 10 Pro x64 user who wins the local race can redirect the privileged service's file access and run attacker-controlled code with SYSTEM privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-13962
Published
May 9, 2025
Updated
May 9, 2025
Vendor
Avast
Product
Avast Cleanup Premium
Classifications
CWE-59, CAPEC-233, CAPEC-549, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 9, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 9, 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=24.2.16593.17810

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Avast · Avast Cleanup Premiumversion=24.2.16593.17810

Published CVSS scores

7.8NortonLifeLock Inc.CVSS: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-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CAPEC-233Privilege Escalation
CAPEC-549Local Execution of Code
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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