CVE-2026-92253 (GCVE-0-2026-92253)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-09-20 12:24 – Updated: 2026-09-21 14:12
VLAI
EPSS
VEX
Title
Arbitrary File Write via Directory Junction in WatchDog Anti-Virus Quarantine Restoration
Summary
Improper link resolution before file access in the quarantine restoration process of WatchDog Anti-Virus 1.8.640 on Windows allows local, low-privileged attackers to cause a quarantined file to be written to an arbitrary filesystem location by creating a directory junction at the original file path and persuading an administrator to restore the file. This may enable modification of protected files or SYSTEM-level code execution through DLL hijacking.
Severity
SSVC
Exploitation: none
Automatable: no
Technical Impact: partial
CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)
Decision recorded 2026-09-21 14:11 UTC
CWE
- CWE-59 - Improper link resolution before file access ('link following')
Assigner
References
Impacted products
1 product
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WatchDog | Anti-Virus |
Affected:
1.8.640 , < 1.8.804
(semver)
|
guessed |
{
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2026-92253",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "none"
},
{
"Automatable": "no"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2026-09-21T14:11:52.365935Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-09-21T14:12:03.001Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"platforms": [
"Windows"
],
"product": "Anti-Virus",
"vendor": "WatchDog",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "1.8.804",
"status": "affected",
"version": "1.8.640",
"versionType": "semver"
}
]
}
],
"credits": [
{
"lang": "en",
"type": "finder",
"value": "Patrick Tung"
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"supportingMedia": [
{
"base64": false,
"type": "text/html",
"value": "Improper link resolution before file access in the quarantine restoration process of WatchDog Anti-Virus 1.8.640 on Windows allows local, low-privileged attackers to cause a quarantined file to be written to an arbitrary filesystem location by creating a directory junction at the original file path and persuading an administrator to restore the file. This may enable modification of protected files or SYSTEM-level code execution through DLL hijacking.\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e"
}
],
"value": "Improper link resolution before file access in the quarantine restoration process of WatchDog Anti-Virus 1.8.640 on Windows allows local, low-privileged attackers to cause a quarantined file to be written to an arbitrary filesystem location by creating a directory junction at the original file path and persuading an administrator to restore the file. This may enable modification of protected files or SYSTEM-level code execution through DLL hijacking."
}
],
"impacts": [
{
"capecId": "CAPEC-132",
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CAPEC-132 Symlink Attack"
}
]
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV4_0": {
"Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackRequirements": "NONE",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"baseScore": 5.2,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"providerUrgency": "GREEN",
"subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"userInteraction": "ACTIVE",
"valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:L/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/RE:L/U:Green",
"version": "4.0",
"vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"vulnConfidentialityImpact": "LOW",
"vulnIntegrityImpact": "LOW",
"vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "LOW"
},
"format": "CVSS",
"scenarios": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "GENERAL"
}
]
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-59",
"description": "CWE-59 Improper link resolution before file access (\u0027link following\u0027)",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-09-20T12:24:47.393Z",
"orgId": "34edf4f2-2577-40ab-82ce-39f45972c129",
"shortName": "watchdog"
},
"references": [
{
"url": "https://watchdog.com/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/"
},
{
"url": "https://watchdog.com/anti-virus-release-notes/"
}
],
"source": {
"discovery": "EXTERNAL"
},
"title": "Arbitrary File Write via Directory Junction in WatchDog Anti-Virus Quarantine Restoration",
"x_generator": {
"engine": "Vulnogram 1.0.5"
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "34edf4f2-2577-40ab-82ce-39f45972c129",
"assignerShortName": "watchdog",
"cveId": "CVE-2026-92253",
"datePublished": "2026-09-20T12:24:47.393Z",
"dateReserved": "2026-09-15T21:07:00.097Z",
"dateUpdated": "2026-09-21T14:12:03.001Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.2",
"vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
"epss": {
"cve": "CVE-2026-92253",
"date": "2026-09-21",
"epss": "0.00131",
"percentile": "0.03101"
},
"nvd": {
"cve": {
"affected": [
{
"affectedData": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"platforms": [
"Windows"
],
"product": "Anti-Virus",
"vendor": "WatchDog",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "1.8.804",
"status": "affected",
"version": "1.8.640",
"versionType": "semver"
}
]
}
],
"source": "34edf4f2-2577-40ab-82ce-39f45972c129"
}
],
"cveTags": [],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "Improper link resolution before file access in the quarantine restoration process of WatchDog Anti-Virus 1.8.640 on Windows allows local, low-privileged attackers to cause a quarantined file to be written to an arbitrary filesystem location by creating a directory junction at the original file path and persuading an administrator to restore the file. This may enable modification of protected files or SYSTEM-level code execution through DLL hijacking."
}
],
"id": "CVE-2026-92253",
"lastModified": "2026-09-21T15:17:34.803",
"metrics": {
"cvssMetricV40": [
{
"cvssData": {
"Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackRequirements": "NONE",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"baseScore": 5.2,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"confidentialityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"integrityRequirement": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackComplexity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackRequirements": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedAttackVector": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedPrivilegesRequired": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedSubIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedUserInteraction": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnAvailabilityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnConfidentialityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"modifiedVulnIntegrityImpact": "NOT_DEFINED",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"providerUrgency": "GREEN",
"subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"userInteraction": "ACTIVE",
"valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:L/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:L/U:Green",
"version": "4.0",
"vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"vulnConfidentialityImpact": "LOW",
"vulnIntegrityImpact": "LOW",
"vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "LOW"
},
"source": "34edf4f2-2577-40ab-82ce-39f45972c129",
"type": "Secondary"
}
],
"ssvcV203": [
{
"source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"ssvcData": {
"id": "CVE-2026-92253",
"options": [
{
"exploitation": "none"
},
{
"automatable": "no"
},
{
"technicalImpact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2026-09-21T14:11:52.365935Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
}
}
]
},
"published": "2026-09-20T13:17:46.243",
"references": [
{
"source": "34edf4f2-2577-40ab-82ce-39f45972c129",
"url": "https://watchdog.com/anti-virus-release-notes/"
},
{
"source": "34edf4f2-2577-40ab-82ce-39f45972c129",
"url": "https://watchdog.com/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/"
}
],
"sourceIdentifier": "34edf4f2-2577-40ab-82ce-39f45972c129",
"vulnStatus": "Received",
"weaknesses": [
{
"description": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CWE-59"
}
],
"source": "34edf4f2-2577-40ab-82ce-39f45972c129",
"type": "Secondary"
}
]
}
},
"vulnrichment": {
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2026-92253",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "none"
},
{
"Automatable": "no"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "partial"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2026-09-21T14:11:52.365935Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-09-21T14:11:58.754Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"defaultStatus": "unaffected",
"platforms": [
"Windows"
],
"product": "Anti-Virus",
"vendor": "WatchDog",
"versions": [
{
"lessThan": "1.8.804",
"status": "affected",
"version": "1.8.640",
"versionType": "semver"
}
]
}
],
"credits": [
{
"lang": "en",
"type": "finder",
"value": "Patrick Tung"
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"supportingMedia": [
{
"base64": false,
"type": "text/html",
"value": "Improper link resolution before file access in the quarantine restoration process of WatchDog Anti-Virus 1.8.640 on Windows allows local, low-privileged attackers to cause a quarantined file to be written to an arbitrary filesystem location by creating a directory junction at the original file path and persuading an administrator to restore the file. This may enable modification of protected files or SYSTEM-level code execution through DLL hijacking.\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e"
}
],
"value": "Improper link resolution before file access in the quarantine restoration process of WatchDog Anti-Virus 1.8.640 on Windows allows local, low-privileged attackers to cause a quarantined file to be written to an arbitrary filesystem location by creating a directory junction at the original file path and persuading an administrator to restore the file. This may enable modification of protected files or SYSTEM-level code execution through DLL hijacking."
}
],
"impacts": [
{
"capecId": "CAPEC-132",
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "CAPEC-132 Symlink Attack"
}
]
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV4_0": {
"Automatable": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Recovery": "NOT_DEFINED",
"Safety": "NOT_DEFINED",
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackRequirements": "NONE",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"baseScore": 5.2,
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"exploitMaturity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"providerUrgency": "GREEN",
"subAvailabilityImpact": "NONE",
"subConfidentialityImpact": "NONE",
"subIntegrityImpact": "NONE",
"userInteraction": "ACTIVE",
"valueDensity": "NOT_DEFINED",
"vectorString": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:L/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/RE:L/U:Green",
"version": "4.0",
"vulnAvailabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"vulnConfidentialityImpact": "LOW",
"vulnIntegrityImpact": "LOW",
"vulnerabilityResponseEffort": "LOW"
},
"format": "CVSS",
"scenarios": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "GENERAL"
}
]
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-59",
"description": "CWE-59 Improper link resolution before file access (\u0027link following\u0027)",
"lang": "en",
"type": "CWE"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-09-20T12:24:47.393Z",
"orgId": "34edf4f2-2577-40ab-82ce-39f45972c129",
"shortName": "watchdog"
},
"references": [
{
"url": "https://watchdog.com/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/"
},
{
"url": "https://watchdog.com/anti-virus-release-notes/"
}
],
"source": {
"discovery": "EXTERNAL"
},
"title": "Arbitrary File Write via Directory Junction in WatchDog Anti-Virus Quarantine Restoration",
"x_generator": {
"engine": "Vulnogram 1.0.5"
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "34edf4f2-2577-40ab-82ce-39f45972c129",
"assignerShortName": "watchdog",
"cveId": "CVE-2026-92253",
"datePublished": "2026-09-20T12:24:47.393Z",
"dateReserved": "2026-09-15T21:07:00.097Z",
"dateUpdated": "2026-09-21T14:12:03.001Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.2"
}
}
}
Loading…
Loading…
Experimental. This forecast is provided for visualization only and may change without notice. Do not use it for operational decisions.
Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Loading…
The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the
vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base
model, served locally by ML-Gateway.
They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
Loading…
Related by attack behaviour
Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.
Loading…