Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
-
AccessGain low-privileged local code execution
-
DeliveryPlant symbolic link/junction to protected file
-
ExploitTrigger Backup Service file deletion
-
ExecutionRedirect delete to SYSTEM target
-
ImpactChain deletion into code execution as SYSTEM
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Symlink resolution safety
|
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires the attacker to already be able to execute low-privileged code on the target (a local, authenticated foothold - PR:L, AV:L), and the G DATA Total Security Backup Service must be installed and running so its privileged file-deletion routine can be abused. The concrete prerequisite is the ability to create a symbolic link/NTFS junction that redirects the Backup Service's file operation to an attacker-chosen target; no user interaction (UI:N) and no elevated privileges are needed beyond the initial low-priv access. Limiting factors: it is not remotely exploitable (local only), it cannot be triggered by an unauthenticated attacker, and it depends on the G DATA Backup Service being present/active on the endpoint - hosts without this product or with the Backup Service disabled are not exposed. |
| Impact | The CVSS 3.0 vector CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H is internally consistent with the description: exploitation is Local (AV:L), requires an already-authenticated low-privileged user (PR:L), needs no user interaction (UI:N), and yields full confidentiality, integrity and availability loss (C:H/I:H/A:H) because the outcome is SYSTEM-level code execution. This is a genuine but bounded risk: it is a strong post-exploitation / local-escalation primitive, not a remotely reachable flaw - an attacker must already have a foothold (malware, a compromised standard user account, or a low-priv service) on the machine. No EPSS score was provided, so probability-of-exploitation cannot be quantified. It is NOT in CISA KEV and no public POC or exploit code was identified, so there is no evidence of active or widespread exploitation; the finding originates from a coordinated ZDI research submission rather than in-the-wild telemetry. No SSVC decision data was supplied. Net: treat as a medium-to-high priority patch on endpoints running this product, but it does not carry the urgency of an unauthenticated remote flaw. Note the vector is CVSS 3.0 (not 3.1) as provided by ZDI. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker who already has a standard (non-admin) account or has landed low-privileged code on a Windows host running G DATA Total Security plants a symbolic link/junction so that a Backup Service file-delete operation is redirected to a protected file. By deleting a chosen SYSTEM-owned file, the attacker triggers a follow-on primitive (e.g. installer rollback or DLL hijack) to execute code as SYSTEM, achieving full machine compromise. No public exploit code was identified at time of analysis, though the technique class is well documented. |
Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.
Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Jul 29, 2026
Local privilege escalation in G DATA Total Security lets a low-privileged user abuse the Backup Service to delete an arbitrary file via a symbolic link (CWE-59 link following), which can be leveraged to run arbitrary code as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. Discovered and reported through the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI-26-432, ZDI-CAN-28665); there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and it is not listed in CISA KEV. The vendor-assigned CVSS 3.0 base score is 7.8 (High), reflecting full SYSTEM-level compromise achievable by any authenticated local user.
RemediationAI
No vendor-released patch version is identified at time of analysis; the only published reference is the ZDI advisory (https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-432/), which typically coincides with a coordinated vendor fix, so administrators should check G DATA's official update channel and apply the latest Total Security build that addresses CVE-2026-13268 / ZDI-26-432 as the primary remediation. Because the flaw is in the SYSTEM-level Backup Service, interim compensating controls center on limiting who can reach it: restrict local interactive and service-account access on endpoints to reduce the pool of potential low-privileged attackers, and monitor for creation of junctions/symlinks and unexpected deletions in paths touched by the Backup Service (Sysmon file-delete and file-create events). As a last-resort mitigation you could disable or stop the G DATA Backup Service, which removes the vulnerable code path but also disables backup functionality entirely and may reduce the product's protection posture - weigh this against your reliance on that feature. Do not deploy unverified third-party 'fixes'; confirm the patched version directly with G DATA.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
The vulnerability lives in the Backup Service component of G DATA Total Security, a Windows endpoint security/antivirus suite that runs a privileged (SYSTEM) service to perform backup operations. The root cause is CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access, i.e. 'link following'): the SYSTEM-level service performs a file operation - here a file deletion - against a path the attacker controls without first verifying that the path is not a symbolic/junction link. On Windows, a low-privileged user can plant an NTFS junction or symlink (commonly using directory junctions plus object-manager symlinks) so that a delete the service intends to perform against an attacker-writable location is redirected to a protected system file. Arbitrary file deletion as SYSTEM is a well-established primitive that can be converted into code execution (for example via Windows Installer rollback or DLL-planting techniques), which is how the reporter characterizes the impact. The affected software is identified by CPE cpe:2.3:a:g_data:total_security:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* with no version bound published in the CPE data.
Know when Total Security gets its next vulnerability
- Watch products and get an email when something new is published
- Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
No credit card · 7-day full trial
Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local authenticated user (AV:L/PR:L) abuses a SYSTEM service via symlink with no interaction (UI:N); outcome is SYSTEM code execution, giving full C:H/I:H/A:H.
Primary rating from Vendor (zdi).
CVSS VectorVendor: zdi
DescriptionCVE.org
G DATA Total Security Backup Service Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of G DATA Total Security. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the Backup Service. By creating a symbolic link, an attacker can abuse the service to delete a file. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-28665.
Executive ViewAI
G DATA Total Security contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) enabling any authenticated local user to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. This threatens organizations with multi-user systems or where account compromise could occur, potentially allowing full system takeover from insider threats or lateral movement attacks. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, but the vulnerability warrants immediate containment.
Restrict Backup Service to administrative accounts; disable non-essential local user accounts; implement file integrity monitoring on system-critical files; enable enhanced logging and alerting for Backup Service operations and unauthorized file deletion; consider temporary service disablement if backup functionality can be maintained through alternative means.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.
Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.
More in Total Security
View allStack-based buffer overflow in Quick Heal Internet Security 10.1.0.316 and earlier, Total Security 10.1.0.316 and earlie
The webssx.sys driver in QuickHeal 16.00 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service. Rated high severity (CVSS
The GDASPAMLib.AntiSpam ActiveX control ASK\GDASpam.dll in G DATA Total Security 25.4.0.3 has a buffer overflow via a lo
A vulnerability exists in Quick Heal Total Security 23.0.0 in the quarantine management component where insufficient val
gdwfpcd.sys in G Data Total Security before 2019-02-22 allows an attacker to bypass ACLs because Interpreted Device Char
K7Sentry.sys in K7 Computing Ultimate Security, Anti-Virus Plus, and Total Security before 14.2.0.253 allows local users
Quick Heal Total Security before 19.0 allows attackers with local admin rights to obtain access to files in the File Vau
Kaspersky Secure Connection, Kaspersky Internet Security, Kaspersky Total Security, Kaspersky Security Cloud prior to ve
Quick Heal Internet Security 10.1.0.316, Quick Heal Total Security 10.1.0.316, and Quick Heal AntiVirus Pro 10.1.0.316 a
Quick Heal Internet Security 10.1.0.316, Quick Heal Total Security 10.1.0.316, and Quick Heal AntiVirus Pro 10.1.0.316 a
Quick Heal Internet Security 10.1.0.316, Quick Heal Total Security 10.1.0.316, and Quick Heal AntiVirus Pro 10.1.0.316 a
Quick Heal Total Security before version 19.0 transmits quarantine and sysinfo files via clear text. Rated medium severi
EUVD-2026-50490
GHSA-9pwf-w3g3-jg2x
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB