SYSTEM code execution via installer junction abuse
Published Jul 10, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026
Link following in Trend Micro Password Manager before 5.8.0.1327 allows local users to escalate privileges through an installer junction. The Password Manager Service installer follows an attacker-created junction while deleting files, redirecting the privileged deletion to an arbitrary path. Low-privileged code execution on the host is required; successful abuse deletes protected files and enables arbitrary code execution as SYSTEM.
Summary
What happened
Link following in Trend Micro Password Manager before 5.8.0.1327 allows local users to escalate privileges through an installer junction. The Password Manager Service installer follows an attacker-created junction while deleting files, redirecting the privileged deletion to an arbitrary path. Low-privileged code execution on the host is required; successful abuse deletes protected files and enables arbitrary code execution as SYSTEM.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-52837
- Published
- Jul 10, 2025
- Updated
- Feb 26, 2026
- Vendor
- Trend Micro
- Product
- Trend Micro Password Manager
- Classifications
- CWE-64, CWE-59, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 10, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 26, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=5.8 <5.8.0.1327
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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