CVE-2024-38081

Privilege escalation via unsafe temporary path resolution

Published Jul 9, 2024 · Updated Dec 9, 2025

Improper link resolution in Microsoft .NET and Visual Studio allows local users to elevate privileges through manipulated temporary paths. The System.IO.Path.GetTempPath implementation could return a user-influenced directory to a privileged process instead of the protected path selected by GetTempPath2. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and user interaction and can let attacker-controlled files affect privileged installer operations.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability1.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper link resolution in Microsoft .NET and Visual Studio allows local users to elevate privileges through manipulated temporary paths. The System.IO.Path.GetTempPath implementation could return a user-influenced directory to a privileged process instead of the protected path selected by GetTempPath2. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and user interaction and can let attacker-controlled files affect privileged installer operations.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-38081
Published
Jul 9, 2024
Updated
Dec 9, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8.1
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 9, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 9, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.8.1 <4.8.1.9256.03

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8.1version=4.8.1 <4.8.1.9256.03
Microsoft · .NET 6.0version=6.0.0 <6.0.32
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8version=4.8.0 <4.8.4739.04
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.8version=17.8.0 <17.8.12
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.6version=17.6.0 <17.6.17
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.4version=17.4.0 <17.4.21
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2version=2.0.0 <2.0.50727.8977
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Service Pack 2version=3.0.0 <2.0.50727.8977
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.1version=3.5.0 <3.5.30729.8971
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.7.2version=4.7.0 <4.7.2.4101.03
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Frameworkversion=10.0.0.0 <10.0.10240.20710; version=4.7.0 <4.7.4101.02
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6.2version=4.7.0 <4.7.4101.01
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5version=3.5.0 <3.5.30729.8972
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8version=4.8.0 <4.8.04739.02

Published CVSS scores

7.3Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/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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