Weakness (CWE)
CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access
The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.
How to prevent it (1 mitigation)
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Architecture and Design
Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
Denying access to a file can prevent an attacker from replacing that file with a link to a sensitive file. Ensure good compartmentalization in the system to provide protected areas that can be trusted.
Source: MITRE CWE-59
594 results · Clear filters · Feed
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High 8.5
NVIDIA Container Toolkit for all platforms contains a vulnerability in the update-ldcache hook
NVIDIA Container Toolkit for all platforms contains a vulnerability in the update-ldcache hook, where an attacker could cause a link following by using a specially crafted container image. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to data tamperin…
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High 8.6
Cato Networks Linux Client Local Privilege Escalation via Symlink
An issue in Cato Networks' CatoClient for Linux, before version 5.5, allows a local attacker to escalate privileges to root by exploiting improper symbolic link handling.
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High 8.1
Git allows arbitrary code execution through broken config quoting
Git is a fast, scalable, distributed revision control system with an unusually rich command set that provides both high-level operations and full access to internals. When reading a config value, Git strips any trailing carriage return and line feed (CRLF). W…
KEV Aug 25, 2025 -
High 7.8
Microsoft PC Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft PC Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 8.8
Visual Studio Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Visual Studio allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
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High 7.3
Windows Performance Recorder (WPR) Denial of Service Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Performance Recorder allows an authorized attacker to deny service locally.
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High 7.8
Windows AppX Deployment Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows AppX Deployment Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8CVE-2025-48799 Public exploit
Windows Update Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Update Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 8.8
Phoenix Contact: File access due to the replacement of a critical file used by the service security-profile
A low privileged remote attacker with file access can replace a critical file or folder used by the service security-profile to get read, write and execute access to any file on the device.
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High 8.8
Phoenix Contact: File access due to the replacement of a critical file used by the arp-preinit script
A low privileged remote attacker with file access can replace a critical file used by the arp-preinit script to get read, write and execute access to any file on the device.
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High 8.8
Phoenix Contact: File access due to the replacement of a critical file used by the watchdog
A low privileged remote attacker with file access can replace a critical file used by the watchdog to get read, write and execute access to any file on the device after the watchdog has been initialized.
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High 7.3
Model Context Protocol Servers Vulnerable to Path Validation Bypass via Prefix Matching and Symlink Handling
Model Context Protocol Servers is a collection of reference implementations for the model context protocol (MCP). Versions of Filesystem prior to 0.6.4 or 2025.7.01 could allow access to unintended files via symlinks within allowed directories. Users are advi…
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High 7.2
A path or symbolic link manipulation vulnerability in SIR 1.0.3 and prior versions allows an authenticated non-admin lo…
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High 7.8
A link following vulnerability in the anti-malware solution portion of Trend Micro Deep Security 20.0 agents could allo…
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High 7.8
A link following vulnerability in Trend Micro Deep Security 20.0 agents could allow a local attacker to escalate privil…
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High 7.8
Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Installer allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.3
Windows Recovery Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Recovery Driver allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.3
2BrightSparks SyncBackFree Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
2BrightSparks SyncBackFree Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of 2BrightSparks SyncBackFree. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute …
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High 7.8
Realtek Bluetooth HCI Adaptor - Privilege Escalation
Bluetooth HCI Adaptor from Realtek has a Link Following vulnerability. Local attackers with regular privileges can create a symbolic link with the same name as a specific file, causing the product to delete arbitrary files pointed to by the link. Subsequently…
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High 8.8CVE-2025-47181 Public exploit
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Update Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.3
Improper Link Resolution Before File Access in QFileSystemEngine on Windows
Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') vulnerability in QFileSystemEngine in the Qt corelib module on Windows which potentially allows Symlink Attacks and the use of Malicious Files. Issue originates from CVE-2024-38081. The vulnerabil…
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High 8.2
Improper link resolution before file access ('Link Following') for some Intel(R) Graphics Driver software installers ma…
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High 7.8
Microsoft PC Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft PC Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8
Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in Avira Prime Version 1.1.96.2
Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in System Speedup Service in Avira Operations GmbH Avira Prime Version 1.1.96.2 on Windows 10 x64 allows local attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM via cre…
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High 7.8
Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in Avast Cleanup Premium Version 24.2.16593.17810
Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in TuneupSvc in Gen Digital Inc. Avast Cleanup Premium Version 24.2.16593.17810 on Windows 10 Pro x64 allows local attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM via…
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High 7.8
Avast Cleanup Premium TuneupSvc Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in TuneupSvc in Avast Cleanup Premium Version 24.2.16593.17810 on Windows 10 Pro x64 allows local attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM via creating a symbo…
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High 7.8
Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in AVG TuneUp Version 23.4
Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in TuneUp Service in AVG TuneUp Version 23.4 (build 15592) on Windows 10 allows local attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM via creating a symbolic link and…
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High 7.8
Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in AVG TuneUp 24.2.16593.9844
Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in TuneupSvc.exe in AVG TuneUp 24.2.16593.9844 on Windows allows local attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM via creating a symbolic link and leveraging the…
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High 7.8
Local Privilege Escalation in Avira Prime 1.1.96.2 on Windows 10 x64
Local Privilege Escalation in Avira.Spotlight.Service.exe in Avira Prime 1.1.96.2 on Windows 10 x64 allows local attackers to gain system-level privileges via arbitrary file deletion
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High 7.8
Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in NortonUtilitiesSvc in Norton Utilities Ultimate (Also affects Avast CleanUp and AVG TuneUp)
Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in NortonUtilitiesSvc in Norton Utilities Ultimate Version 24.2.16862.6344 on Windows 10 Pro x64 allows local attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM via the …
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High 7.3
Elevation of Privilege in Docker Desktop for Windows during Upgrade due to Insecure Directory Deletion
A vulnerability in the update process of Docker Desktop for Windows versions prior to 4.41.0 could allow a local, low-privileged attacker to escalate privileges to SYSTEM. During an update, Docker Desktop attempts to delete files and subdirectories under the …
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High 7.2
An Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') vulnerability in SonicWall NetExtender Windows (32 an…
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High 7.8
Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Installer allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.8CVE-2025-21204 Public exploit
Windows Process Activation Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Update Stack allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.5CVE-2024-12905 Public exploit
tar-fs Vulnerable to Link Following and Path Traversal via Extracting a Crafted tar File
An Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ("Link Following") and Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ("Path Traversal"). This vulnerability occurs when extracting a maliciously crafted tar file, which can result in unauthorized fi…
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High 7.8
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Update Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 8.8
Local File Read (LFI) by Tarslip Symlink via arxiv_download() API in binary-husky/gpt_academic
GPT Academic version 3.83 is vulnerable to a Local File Read (LFI) vulnerability through its HotReload function. This function can download and extract tar.gz files from arxiv.org. Despite implementing protections against path traversal, the application overl…
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High 8.8
Remote Code Execution in binary-husky/gpt_academic
A vulnerability in binary-husky/gpt_academic version git 310122f allows for remote code execution. The application supports the extraction of user-provided RAR files without proper validation. The Python rarfile module, which supports symlinks, can be exploit…
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High 7.1
Arbitrary File Write via TarSlip in dmlc/gluon-cv
A vulnerability in the `ImageClassificationDataset.from_csv()` API of the `dmlc/gluon-cv` repository, version 0.10.0, allows for arbitrary file write. The function downloads and extracts `tar.gz` files from URLs without proper sanitization, making it suscepti…
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High 7.8
Symbolic Link Exploit in 1E Client's - Nomad module allows Arbitrary File Deletion
Improper link resolution before file access in the Nomad module of the 1E Client, in versions prior to 25.3, enables an attacker with local unprivileged access on a Windows system to delete arbitrary files on the device by exploiting symbolic links.