CVE-2026-92253

Arbitrary file write via quarantine directory junction

Published Sep 20, 2026 · Updated Sep 20, 2026

Improper link resolution in WatchDog Anti-Virus 1.8.640 through 1.8.803 allows local users to write quarantined files to arbitrary paths. The quarantine restore operation follows a directory junction placed at the original path and writes the restored file to the junction target. Exploitation requires a low-privileged local user to prepare the junction and an administrator to restore the item, enabling protected-file modification or SYSTEM-level code execution through DLL hijacking.

CVSS severity5.2
Medium
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper link resolution in WatchDog Anti-Virus 1.8.640 through 1.8.803 allows local users to write quarantined files to arbitrary paths. The quarantine restore operation follows a directory junction placed at the original path and writes the restored file to the junction target. Exploitation requires a low-privileged local user to prepare the junction and an administrator to restore the item, enabling protected-file modification or SYSTEM-level code execution through DLL hijacking.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-92253
Published
Sep 20, 2026
Updated
Sep 20, 2026
Vendor
Watchdog
Product
Watchdog Anti-Virus
Classifications
CWE-59, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 20, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.8.640 <1.8.804

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Watchdog · Watchdog Anti-Virusversion=1.8.640 <1.8.804

Published CVSS scores

5.2Watchdog CNACVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:L/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

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.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 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')
T1574.001DLL Search Order Hijacking

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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