Malicious directory junction can cause WiX RemoveFoldersEx to possibly delete elevated files
Summary
The custom action behind WiX's RemoveFolderEx functionality could allow a standard user to delete protected directories.
Details
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.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| .NET (NuGet) | wix | < 3.14.1, >= 4.0.0, < 4.0.5 | 3.14.1, 4.0.5 |
| .NET (NuGet) | WixToolset.Util.wixext | < 4.0.5 | 4.0.5 |
References
- https://github.com/wixtoolset/issues/security/advisories/GHSA-jx4p-m4wm-vvjg
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-29188
- https://github.com/wixtoolset/wix/commit/2e5960b575881567a8807e6b8b9c513138b19742
- https://github.com/wixtoolset/wix3/commit/93eeb5f6835776694021f66d4226c262c67d487a
- https://github.com/wixtoolset/issues
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-59- Platform
- .NET (NuGet)
- Package
wix, WixToolset.Util.wixext- Disclosed
- 25.03.2024
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 11:23
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-jx4p-m4wm-vvjg - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: wix
All published vulnerabilities of this package (.NET (NuGet)), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 3
- First → latest
- 02.2024 03.2024
- Without a fix
- 0
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- High 3
Disclosures per year
- 2024: 3
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 0
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Malicious directory junction can cause WiX RemoveFoldersEx to possibly delete elevated files this entry
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