WiX Toolset's .be TEMP folder is vulnerable to DLL redirection attacks that allow the attacker to escalate privileges
Summary
.be TEMP folder is vulnerable to DLL redirection attacks that allow the attacker to escalate privileges.
Details
If the bundle is not run as admin, the user's TEMP folder is used and not the system TEMP folder. A utility is able to monitor the user's TEMP folder for changes and drop its own DLL into the .be/<bundle>.Local folder immediately when the .be folder is created. When the burn engine elevates, the malicious DLL receives elevated privileges.
PoC
As a standard, non-admin user:
- Monitor the user's TEMP folder for changes using ReadDirectoryChangesW
- On FILE_ACTION_ADDED, check if the folder name is .be
- Create a folder in .be named after the bundle + .Local (e.g. MyInstaller.exe.Local)
- Put the malicious COMCTL32.DLL in the .Local folder following the naming used for the real DLL (e.g. MyInstaller.exe.Local/x86_microsoft.windows.common-controls_.../COMCTL32.dll)
- Do hacker things when the engine escalates and the malicious DLL is loaded
Proper naming for the path can be obtained by using GetModuleHandle("comctl32.dll") and GetModuleFileName.
Impact
DLL redirection utilizing .exe.Local Windows capability. This impacts any installer built with the WiX installer framework.
Affected software
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| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| .NET (NuGet) | wix | >= 4.0.0, < 4.0.4, < 3.14.0 | 4.0.4, 3.14.0 |
References
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-426- Platform
- .NET (NuGet)
- Package
wix- Disclosed
- 08.02.2024
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 11:23
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-7wh2-wxc7-9ph5 - 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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WiX Toolset's .be TEMP folder is vulnerable to DLL redirection attacks that allow the attacker to escalate privileges this entry
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