CVE-2026-92253 Arbitrary File Write via Directory Junction in WatchDog Anti-Virus Quarantine Restoration
Local attackers can write quarantined files to arbitrary locations via directory junctions, potentially achieving SYSTEM-level code execution.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-92253?
CVE-2026-92253 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in WatchDog Anti-Virus, published on 20 Sep 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
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.
Weakness: CWE-59
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-92253?
How do I fix CVE-2026-92253?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-92253 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-92253 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-92253 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-mhp8-fvh4-c285.