ZDI-26-432: 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 ZDI has assigned a CVSS rating of 7.8. The following CVEs are assigned: CVE-2026-13268.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2026-13268 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in G DATA Total Security's Backup Service. Exploitation requires prior ability to execute code with low privileges. The vulnerability involves abusing symbolic link creation to delete a file, which allows an attacker to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.8 and is fixed in version 25.5.20.121.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows a local attacker to escalate privileges from a low-privileged user to SYSTEM level, potentially leading to full system compromise including confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade G DATA Total Security to version 25.5.20.121 or later, where this vulnerability is fixed. No other mitigations are specified.
ZDI-26-432: G DATA Total Security Backup Service Link Following Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
Description
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 ZDI has assigned a CVSS rating of 7.8. The following CVEs are assigned: CVE-2026-13268.
Affected software
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-13268 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in G DATA Total Security's Backup Service. Exploitation requires prior ability to execute code with low privileges. The vulnerability involves abusing symbolic link creation to delete a file, which allows an attacker to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.8 and is fixed in version 25.5.20.121.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows a local attacker to escalate privileges from a low-privileged user to SYSTEM level, potentially leading to full system compromise including confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.
Mitigation Recommendations
Upgrade G DATA Total Security to version 25.5.20.121 or later, where this vulnerability is fixed. No other mitigations are specified.
Technical Details
- Article Source
- {"url":"http://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-432/","fetched":true,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-16T15:50:51.530Z","wordCount":191}
- Classification
- {"confidence":0.95,"severitySource":"cvss-text","classifier":"rss-v2"}
Threat ID: 6a58fe6668715ace43485bde
Added to database: 07/16/2026, 15:53:10 UTC
Last enriched: 08/07/2026, 06:03:25 UTC
Last updated: 08/28/2026, 10:52:06 UTC
Views: 89
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