CVE-2024-7234

SYSTEM code execution via symbolic-link file deletion

Published Nov 22, 2024 · Updated Dec 5, 2024

Link following in AVG AntiVirus Free 23.9.8494.795 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM through the AVG Service. AVGSvc follows an attacker-created symbolic link during a privileged file-deletion operation, causing the service to delete an attacker-chosen file. Low-privileged code execution on the Windows host is required; controlled deletion of a protected file enables local privilege escalation to SYSTEM.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.35%
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 AVG AntiVirus Free 23.9.8494.795 allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM through the AVG Service. AVGSvc follows an attacker-created symbolic link during a privileged file-deletion operation, causing the service to delete an attacker-chosen file. Low-privileged code execution on the Windows host is required; controlled deletion of a protected file enables local privilege escalation to SYSTEM.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-7234
Published
Nov 22, 2024
Updated
Dec 5, 2024
Vendor
AVG
Product
AVG AntiVirus
Classifications
CWE-59, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 22, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 5, 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=23.9.8494.795

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

AVG · AVG AntiVirusversion=23.9.8494.795
AVG · AVG AntiVirus Freeversion=23.9.8494.795

Published CVSS scores

7.8Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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.

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')
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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