Detect Microsoft Windows Link Following Vulnerability (CVE-2025-60710) in Sumo Logic CSE
CVE-2025-60710 is an actively exploited Microsoft Windows link following vulnerability (CWE-59) that allows an attacker to abuse symbolic links or junction points to redirect file operations to unintended locations. This class of vulnerability is commonly leveraged for privilege escalation, file tampering, or unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability is listed on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, indicating confirmed in-the-wild exploitation.
MITRE ATT&CK
Sumo Detection Query
_sourceCategory=windows/sysmon OR _sourceCategory=windows/security
| json auto
| where (CommandLine matches "*mklink*" or CommandLine matches "*junction*" or CommandLine matches "*CreateSymbolicLink*")
or (TargetFilename matches "*\\Temp\\*" and TargetFilename matches "*.lnk")
| where !(User matches "SYSTEM" or User matches "NT AUTHORITY*")
| count by _sourceHost, User, CommandLine, TargetFilename
| where _count > 0
| order by _count descSumo Logic query for CVE-2025-60710 detecting Windows link following activity by correlating command line arguments and file paths indicative of symlink/junction abuse by non-system accounts.
Data Sources
False Positives & Tuning
- Automated patch management tools temporarily creating symlinks during update staging
- Development IDEs creating junction points for project workspace isolation
- Legitimate use of mklink by system administrators for volume management
Other platforms for CVE-2025-60710
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Create Symbolic Link in Temp Directory Targeting Privileged Path
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1 capturing mklink.exe execution with command line containing the symlink and target paths; Sysmon Event ID 11 showing creation of test_link.txt in C:\Windows\Temp\.
- Test 2Junction Point Creation Targeting System32
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1 with mklink /J command line and junction target; Windows Security Event ID 4663 on subsequent directory traversal through the junction.
- Test 3PowerShell Symbolic Link Creation via .NET API
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1 showing powershell.exe with CreateSymbolicLink in command line; Sysmon Event ID 11 or 12 for the created link object in Temp directory.
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