CVE-2024-49051

SYSTEM code execution via symbolic-link file creation

Published Nov 12, 2024 · Updated Jul 8, 2025

Link following in Microsoft PC Manager before 3.14.14.0 allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges by abusing its service. MSPCManagerService follows an attacker-created symbolic link while creating a file, redirecting the privileged write to an arbitrary path. Low-privileged code execution on the Windows host is required, after which arbitrary file creation enables code execution as SYSTEM.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.63%
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 Microsoft PC Manager before 3.14.14.0 allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges by abusing its service. MSPCManagerService follows an attacker-created symbolic link while creating a file, redirecting the privileged write to an arbitrary path. Low-privileged code execution on the Windows host is required, after which arbitrary file creation enables code execution as SYSTEM.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-49051
Published
Nov 12, 2024
Updated
Jul 8, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft PC Manager
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 12, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 8, 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=1.0.0 <3.14.14.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft PC Managerversion=1.0.0 <3.14.14.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8Microsoft CorporationCVSS: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.

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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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