Description

An improper link following vulnerability was reported in the VantageCoreAddin for Lenovo Vantage and Lenovo Commercial Vantage that could allow a local authenticated user to perform an arbitrary file deletion with elevated privileges.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "7.1",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-13T15:19:28.293Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-13T15:19:28.293Z",
  "executiveSummary": "An improper link following vulnerability has been identified within the VantageCoreAddin component of Lenovo Vantage and Lenovo Commercial Vantage.\nThe vulnerability allows a local authenticated attacker to leverage elevated privileges to perform arbitrary file deletion operations across the underlying operating system.\nThe root vulnerability stems from insecure file handling logic where symlinks or hard links are improperly followed, allowing low-privileged local users to induce administrative or SYSTEM-level file deletion actions against arbitrary targets.\nSuccessful exploitation requires local authentication on the target system and the ability to manipulate link structures within the filesystem.\nThe primary risk implication is local denial of service, system instability, or potential data destruction if critical operating system files or application binaries are targeted for deletion by the abusing process.\nBecause the vulnerability relies on local access and privilege abuse, the attack vector is restricted to authenticated execution contexts without requiring remote network exposure.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability resides within the VantageCoreAddin module utilized by Lenovo Vantage and Lenovo Commercial Vantage software suites.\nThe root cause is an improper link following implementation during file system operations performed with elevated privileges.\nWhen the VantageCoreAddin executes administrative or SYSTEM-level file operations, it fails to adequately validate or restrict symlinks, junctions, or hard links, allowing the traversal or manipulation of file paths.\nAn attacker with local authentication and standard user privileges can instantiate a meticulously crafted symbolic link or junction pointing from a monitored application path to a critical system or application file.\nWhen the privileged VantageCoreAddin component attempts to interact with or delete files within its expected working directories, it follows the attacker-controlled link without validating the true destination of the target handle.\nConsequently, the privileged process acts as a confused deputy, executing the file deletion command against the arbitrary file targeted by the symlink.\nThe attack flow proceeds as follows: First, the local authenticated user identifies a privileged file cleanup or deletion routine executed by VantageCoreAddin. Second, the user constructs a symbolic link in a writable location pointing to a protected file targeted for deletion. Third, the user triggers the VantageCoreAddin operation or waits for a scheduled maintenance task to execute. Fourth, the privileged service follows the link, resulting in the unauthorized deletion of the target file under the security context of the elevated process.\nPrivilege requirements involve local authentication with standard user rights to create the necessary links.\nThe attack vector is strictly local, requiring no network exposure or remote interaction.\nThe post-exploitation impact includes arbitrary file deletion, which can lead to system corruption, denial of service, or the removal of security controls depending on the specific files selected by the attacker during exploitation."
}