CVE-2024-4454

SYSTEM code execution via symlink file creation

Published May 22, 2024 · Updated Aug 1, 2024

Link following in WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection 23.9 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. The plugin hosting service resolves an attacker-created symbolic link before creating a file, allowing the write to target an arbitrary system path. Exploitation requires administrator privileges or an administrator to perform the attacker-induced action; successful abuse grants SYSTEM-context code execution.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.40%
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 WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection 23.9 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. The plugin hosting service resolves an attacker-created symbolic link before creating a file, allowing the write to target an arbitrary system path. Exploitation requires administrator privileges or an administrator to perform the attacker-induced action; successful abuse grants SYSTEM-context code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-4454
Published
May 22, 2024
Updated
Aug 1, 2024
Vendor
WithSecure
Product
WithSecure Elements
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 22, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 1, 2024Record 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=23.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

WithSecure · WithSecure Elementsversion=23.9
WithSecure · WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protectionversion=23.9

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.3Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/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 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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