CVE-2024-7228

System denial-of-service via symbolic-link folder creation

Published Nov 22, 2024 · Updated Nov 23, 2024

Link following in Avast Free Antivirus 23.11.6090 build 23.11.8365.809 allows local users to cause a system denial-of-service via a symbolic link. The Avast Service follows an attacker-created symbolic link while creating a folder, redirecting the folder-creation operation. Exploitation requires low-privileged code execution on the affected Windows host; ZDI does not specify whether the denial of service is a hang, crash, reboot, or shutdown.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.31%
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 Free Antivirus 23.11.6090 build 23.11.8365.809 allows local users to cause a system denial-of-service via a symbolic link. The Avast Service follows an attacker-created symbolic link while creating a folder, redirecting the folder-creation operation. Exploitation requires low-privileged code execution on the affected Windows host; ZDI does not specify whether the denial of service is a hang, crash, reboot, or shutdown.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-7228
Published
Nov 22, 2024
Updated
Nov 23, 2024
Vendor
Avast
Product
Avast Free Antivirus
Classifications
CWE-59, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 22, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 23, 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=23.11.6090 Build 23.11.8365.809

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Avast · Avast Free Antivirusversion=23.11.6090 Build 23.11.8365.809

Published CVSS scores

5.5National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
6.1Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/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')
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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