Weakness · Medium
CWE-64: Windows Shortcut Following (.LNK)
What it is
The product, when opening a file or directory, does not sufficiently handle when the file is a Windows shortcut (.LNK) whose target is outside of the intended control sphere. This could allow an attacker to cause the product to operate on unauthorized files.
- Severity (our rating)
- Medium
- Likelihood of exploit
- Low
- Introduced during
- Operation
- Exploited in the wild
- No CVE in CISA's catalog
What an attacker can do
- Read Files or Directories (Confidentiality, Integrity)
- Modify Files or Directories (Confidentiality, Integrity)
How to prevent it
Architecture and Design
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system. Denying access to a file can prevent an attacker from replacing that file with a link to a sensitive file. Ensure good compartmentalization in the system to provide protected areas that can be trusted.
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Start freeSource: MITRE Common Weakness Enumeration, CWE version 4.19.1. CWE is a trademark of The MITRE Corporation.