CVE-2025-53503

SYSTEM code execution via cleanup junction abuse

Published Jul 10, 2025 · Updated Jul 10, 2025

Privilege escalation in Trend Micro Cleaner One Pro 6.8.323 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. The Junk Files Cleanup functionality follows an attacker-created Windows junction and directs its privileged service to delete an arbitrary file. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged code execution on the Windows host; successful abuse can remove protected files and yield SYSTEM execution.

CVSS severity7.8
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

Privilege escalation in Trend Micro Cleaner One Pro 6.8.323 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. The Junk Files Cleanup functionality follows an attacker-created Windows junction and directs its privileged service to delete an arbitrary file. Exploitation requires prior low-privileged code execution on the Windows host; successful abuse can remove protected files and yield SYSTEM execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-53503
Published
Jul 10, 2025
Updated
Jul 10, 2025
Vendor
Trend Micro
Product
Cleaner One Pro
Classifications
CWE-64, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 10, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 10, 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=6.8 <6.8.323

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Trend Micro · Cleaner One Proversion=6.8 <6.8.323

Published CVSS scores

7.8Trend Micro, Inc.CVSS: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-64Windows Shortcut Following (.LNK)
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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