CVE-2024-5102

SYSTEM code execution via Repair link following

Published Jun 10, 2024 · Updated Aug 1, 2024

Link-following in Avast Antivirus before 24.2 on Windows allows local users to execute processes as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. The Repair feature deletes a file from the current user's AppData directory with SYSTEM authority and follows an attacker-controlled pseudo-symlink and junction to another system path. A low-privileged user must win a race that recreates system files and induces a Windows callback to a crafted file, enabling arbitrary file deletion or a privileged shell.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.22%
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 Avast Antivirus before 24.2 on Windows allows local users to execute processes as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. The Repair feature deletes a file from the current user's AppData directory with SYSTEM authority and follows an attacker-controlled pseudo-symlink and junction to another system path. A low-privileged user must win a race that recreates system files and induces a Windows callback to a crafted file, enabling arbitrary file deletion or a privileged shell.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-5102
Published
Jun 10, 2024
Updated
Aug 1, 2024
Vendor
Avast
Product
Avast Antivirus
Classifications
CWE-59, CWE-1284, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 10, 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=24.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Avast · Avast Antivirusversion=24.2

Published CVSS scores

7.0NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS: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 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')
CWE-1284Improper Validation of Specified Quantity in Input
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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