Malicious directory junction can cause WiX RemoveFoldersEx to possibly delete elevated files
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · 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. The custom action behind WiX's `RemoveFolderEx` functionality could allow a standard user to delete protected directories. `RemoveFolderEx` deletes an entire directory tree during installation or uninstallation. It does so by recursing every subdirectory starting at a specified directory and adding each subdirectory to the list of directories Windows Installer should delete. If the setup author instructed `RemoveFolderEx` to delete a per-user folder from a per-machine installer, an attacker could create a directory junction in that per-user folder pointing to a per-machine, protected directory. Windows Installer, when executing the per-machine installer after approval by an administrator, would delete the target of the directory junction. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.14.1 and 4.0.5.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
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-jx4p-m4wm-vvjg |
| — | wix (NuGet) | 4.0.0 to before 4.0.5 | 4.0.5 | Patch available | GHSA-jx4p-m4wm-vvjg |
| — | WixToolset.Util.wixext (NuGet) | before 4.0.5 | 4.0.5 | Patch available | GHSA-jx4p-m4wm-vvjg |
- 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-jx4p-m4wm-vvjg
- wix (NuGet) Vendor— Affected 4.0.0 to before 4.0.5 Fixed in 4.0.5 Patch available GHSA-jx4p-m4wm-vvjg
- WixToolset.Util.wixext (NuGet) Vendor— Affected before 4.0.5 Fixed in 4.0.5 Patch available GHSA-jx4p-m4wm-vvjg
Remediation
- Fix · CNA issues (wixtoolset) Fixed in 3.14.1, 4.0.5
- Fix · GHSA-jx4p-m4wm-vvjg wix (NuGet) Fixed in 3.14.1 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-jx4p-m4wm-vvjg wix (NuGet) Fixed in 4.0.5 Advisory →
- Fix · GHSA-jx4p-m4wm-vvjg WixToolset.Util.wixext (NuGet) Fixed in 4.0.5 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-29188
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-jx4p-m4wm-vvjg
References
More wixtoolset vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-19356 WiX based installers are vulnerable to binary hijack when run as SYSTEM CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.3
Sources
- CVE-2024-29188 · CVE Program
- CVE-2024-29188 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-jx4p-m4wm-vvjg · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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