# CVE-2026-27748: Avira Internet Security Arbitrary File Deletion via Improper Link Resolution

> Local attackers can exploit improper link resolution in the Software Updater to delete arbitrary files with SYSTEM privileges, potentially leading to privilege escalation or denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 5 Mar 2026
- **Updated:** 1 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-w3vx-x8fj-r29m

## What is CVE-2026-27748?

CVE-2026-27748 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Gen Digital Inc. Avira Internet Security, published on 5 Mar 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Avira Internet Security contains an improper link resolution vulnerability in the Software Updater component. During the update process, a privileged service running as SYSTEM deletes a file under C:\\ProgramData without validating whether the path resolves through a symbolic link or reparse point. A local attacker can create a malicious link to redirect the delete operation to an arbitrary file, resulting in deletion of attacker-chosen files with SYSTEM privileges. This may lead to local privilege escalation, denial of service, or system integrity compromise depending on the targeted file and operating system configuration.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-27748?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Avira Internet Security.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-27748?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-27748 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-27748 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-27748 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Gen Digital Inc. Avira Internet Security

- [CVE-2026-27749](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27749/): Avira Internet Security System Speedup Insecure Deserialization (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2026-27750](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27750/): Avira Internet Security Optimizer TOCTOU (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-27748 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-27748 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Gen Digital Inc. Avira Internet Security, published on 5 Mar 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-27748 exists.

Affected product: Gen Digital Inc. Avira Internet Security. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27748/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27748/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-27748
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-27748
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-27748

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-27748/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.