CVE-2026-92253: Arbitrary File Write via Directory Junction in WatchDog Anti-Virus Quarantine Restoration
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 20/100)
- The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.17% (FIRST EPSS).
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it. A low-privileged account is enough. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- Fixed version: WatchDog Anti-Virus 1.8.804.
- Mentioned 1 time in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).
Low priority for now. Upgrade to WatchDog Anti-Virus 1.8.804 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
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.
- Published
- Sep 20, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 22, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.1% · 7th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-59
Report tools
Action score
20
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 20 / 40 · 5.2 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.1%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- none
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- —
- CNA · watchdog
- 5.2
- NVD has not scored this yet; the score shown is the CNA’s.
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
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- No public exploit code on record
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Is your version affected? Check itNoroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
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Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (watchdog). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
WatchDog Anti-Virus
- 1.8.640 and later · before 1.8.804affected · semver
Same product
watchdog: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2022-38611Incorrect access control in Watchdog Anti-Virus v1.4.158 allows attackers to perform a DLL hijacking attack and execute arbitrary code via…31Monitor
- CVE-2023-1453Watchdog Anti-Virus IoControlCode wsdk-driver.sys 0x80002008 access control28Monitor
- CVE-2026-92254WatchDog Antivirus kernel driver arbitrary file deletion via unauthenticated IOCTL27Monitor
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2022-38582Nov 4, 2022 · Incorrect access control in the anti-virus driver wsdkd.sys of Watchdog Antivirus v1.4.158 allows attackers to write arbitrary files.26Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2023-1446Mar 17, 2023 · Watchdog Anti-Virus IoControlCode wsdk-driver.sys 0x80002008 denial of service22Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2026-92252Sep 20, 2026 · Incorrect Default Permissions in WatchDog Anti-Virus Installation Directory23Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| WatchDog Anti-Virus | 1.8.804 | Vendor (CNA) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
- Patrick Tungfinder
National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)
Official security notices citing this record; remediation advice is on the agency's page.
- TR-26-1144 · Sep 21, 2026(Watchdog Güvenlik Bildirimi)
Not on record for this CVE: patch commit or PR link · variant or chain candidate · public bounty program.
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- A low-privileged account is enough.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- Integrity
- Availability
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- A
- Scope
- X
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-59 · Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')CVSS vector
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
nvd-secondary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
ATT&CK techniques
- Obfuscated Files or Information: HTML SmugglingT1027.006
- Obfuscated Files or Information: Embedded PayloadsT1027.009
- Boot or Logon Autostart Execution:Shortcut ModificationT1547.009
- Hide Artifacts: Resource ForkingT1564.009
- Hijack Execution Flow: Executable Installer File Permissions WeaknessT1574.005
- Hijack Execution Flow: Services File Permissions WeaknessT1574.010
Change log (1)
- Fix✗ → ✓
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References
Show all references (1 more)Show less
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.