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Avast sandbox escape via arbitrary file write in virtualized environment

Exploited
No known exploitation
Fix
Fixed in 26.7
Who is exposed
Not reported

Do first: Upgrade to a fixed version: 26.7.

Published
Last modified
0/100 · provisional
None on Exploit-DB, Metasploit or GitHub

Summary

Avast's Windows sandbox has a file virtualization flaw that lets a low-privileged attacker already running inside the sandbox write files to protected locations on the host. By overwriting executables, system libraries, or startup settings, the attacker can run code with host privileges.

Written by anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5 from the sources below. Verify against them.

Read the original description

Insufficient isolation in the Avast sandbox file virtualization layer on Windows allows a local, low-privileged attacker executing inside the sandbox to write arbitrary files outside sandbox containment and execute code on the host.

The sandbox virtualizes file system operations by intercepting write requests to protected system directories. However, the virtualization implementation fails to properly validate write targets in certain edge cases, allowing writes to bypass the virtualization redirection and reach the actual host file system in protected locations.

An attacker can exploit this to overwrite executable files, system libraries, or startup configurations with arbitrary content, leading to code execution with host privileges on subsequent system operations or reboot.

cve.now Index

0Pcve.now Index 0 of 100 · methodology v3 · provisional
  • Exploitation?/40Unknown. No CISA SSVC exploitation rating yet
  • Exposure?/25Unknown. No advisory context yet
  • Reach?/20Unknown. No tracked technology or package matched
  • Severity?/10Unknown. No CVSS score or vendor rating
  • No patch0/5No signal

What would change the score

  • Would score about 55 if added to CISA KEV
  • Would score about 50 if CISA's SSVC rates exploitation active
  • Would score about 22 if advisories confirm default setups are exposed

What to do

  • Upgrade to a fixed version: 26.7.

Timeline

  1. CVE published
  2. First seen by cve.now

Affected versions

  • Gen Digital Avast Antivirus, Avast One, Avast Premium Security, Avast Ultimate

    fixed in 26.7

  • Gen Digital AVG Antivirus Free, AVG Internet Security, AVG Ultimate

    fixed in 26.7

  • Gen Digital Norton Antivirus Plus, Norton 360 Standard, Norton 360 Deluxe, Norton 360 Advanced

    fixed in 26.7

Evidence 4

  1. Advisory
  2. Patch
  3. Patch
  4. Patch

Corrections

None so far.

Something wrong on this page? Report an error. Every fix is listed here.

Questions about CVE-2026-80302

Is CVE-2026-80302 being exploited?

It is not in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and CISA's SSVC assessment does not mark exploitation as active. That does not mean it has not been attacked: vendors and researchers can report attacks before CISA lists them. No public exploit code is tracked.Source: cve.now feed data

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-80302?

Avast Antivirus, Avast One, Avast Premium Security, Avast Ultimate: before 26.7. AVG Antivirus Free, AVG Internet Security, AVG Ultimate: before 26.7. Norton Antivirus Plus, Norton 360 Standard, Norton 360 Deluxe, Norton 360 Advanced: before 26.7.Source: cve.now feed data

How do I fix CVE-2026-80302?

Upgrade to a fixed version: 26.7.Source: cve.now feed data