CVE-2024-41183

SYSTEM code execution via symbolic-link file operations

Published Oct 22, 2024 · Updated Mar 13, 2025

Local privilege escalation in Trend Micro VPN 5.8.1012 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM on Windows. VpnBackgroundController follows an attacker-created symbolic link while moving files, and DEP Manager follows one while deleting a folder. Low-privileged code execution is required; abuse of these privileged operations permits arbitrary file manipulation and SYSTEM-context execution.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.01%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Local privilege escalation in Trend Micro VPN 5.8.1012 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM on Windows. VpnBackgroundController follows an attacker-created symbolic link while moving files, and DEP Manager follows one while deleting a folder. Low-privileged code execution is required; abuse of these privileged operations permits arbitrary file manipulation and SYSTEM-context execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-41183
Published
Oct 22, 2024
Updated
Mar 13, 2025
Vendor
Trend Micro
Product
Trend Micro VPN
Classifications
CWE-73, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 22, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 13, 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=5.8 <5.8.1030

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Trend Micro · Trend Micro VPNversion=5.8 <5.8.1030

Published CVSS scores

7.8Trend Micro, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/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-73External Control of File Name or Path
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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