WiX based installers are vulnerable to binary hijack when run as SYSTEM
Priority HIGH 67CWE-732Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.
Summary
WiX toolset lets developers create installers for Windows Installer, the Windows installation engine. When a bundle runs as SYSTEM user, Burn uses GetTempPathW which points to an insecure directory C:\Windows\Temp to drop and load multiple binaries. Standard users can hijack the binary before it's loaded in the application resulting in elevation of privileges. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.14.1 and 4.0.5.
Why it matters now
Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00463 40th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed issues (wixtoolset): 3.14.1, 4.0.5wix (NuGet): 3.14.1, 4.0.5+1 more product
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| wixtoolset | issues | before 3.14.1; 4.0.0 to before 4.0.5 | 3.14.1, 4.0.5 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | wix (NuGet) | before 3.14.1 | 3.14.1 | Patch available | GHSA-rf39-3f98-xr7r |
| — | wix (NuGet) | 4.0.0 to before 4.0.5 | 4.0.5 | Patch available | GHSA-rf39-3f98-xr7r |
| — | WixToolset.Sdk (NuGet) | before 4.0.5 | 4.0.5 | Patch available | GHSA-rf39-3f98-xr7r |
- issues Vendorwixtoolset Affected before 3.14.1; 4.0.0 to before 4.0.5 Fixed in 3.14.1, 4.0.5 Patch available CNA
- wix (NuGet) Vendor— Affected before 3.14.1 Fixed in 3.14.1 Patch available GHSA-rf39-3f98-xr7r
- wix (NuGet) Vendor— Affected 4.0.0 to before 4.0.5 Fixed in 4.0.5 Patch available GHSA-rf39-3f98-xr7r
- WixToolset.Sdk (NuGet) Vendor— Affected before 4.0.5 Fixed in 4.0.5 Patch available GHSA-rf39-3f98-xr7r
CPE names CISA-ADP · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:wixtoolset_project:burn:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | — | — | — |
- cpe:2.3:a:wixtoolset_project:burn:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions — — ·—
Remediation
- Fix · CNA issues (wixtoolset) Fixed in 3.14.1, 4.0.5
- Fix · GHSA-rf39-3f98-xr7r wix (NuGet) Fixed in 3.14.1 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-rf39-3f98-xr7r wix (NuGet) Fixed in 4.0.5 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-rf39-3f98-xr7r WixToolset.Sdk (NuGet) Fixed in 4.0.5 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-29187
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-rf39-3f98-xr7r
References
More wixtoolset vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-19357 Malicious directory junction can cause WiX RemoveFoldersEx to possibly delete elevated files CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
Sources
- CVE-2024-29187 · CVE Program
- CVE-2024-29187 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-rf39-3f98-xr7r · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences