CVE-2024-30033

SYSTEM code execution via symbolic-link file deletion

Published May 14, 2024 · Updated May 3, 2025

Link-following in Windows Search Service on affected Windows builds allows local users to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. The service follows an attacker-created symbolic link during a privileged file operation, allowing deletion of an attacker-chosen file. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged code execution and a successful high-complexity setup; file deletion can be leveraged into SYSTEM execution.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.96%
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 Windows Search Service on affected Windows builds allows local users to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. The service follows an attacker-created symbolic link during a privileged file operation, allowing deletion of an attacker-chosen file. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged code execution and a successful high-complexity setup; file deletion can be leveraged into SYSTEM execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-30033
Published
May 14, 2024
Updated
May 3, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 11 version 21H2
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 14, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 3, 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=10.0.0 <10.0.22000.2960

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows 11 version 21H2version=10.0.0 <10.0.22000.2960
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 21H2version=10.0.19043.0 <10.0.19044.4412
Microsoft · Windows 10 Version 22H2version=10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.4412
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022version=10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.2461

Published CVSS scores

7.0Microsoft CorporationCVSS: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-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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