CVE-2026-41091
Microsoft Defender Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Defender allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Microsoft Defender Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Defender allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
- Record
CVE-2026-41091- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C - Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-31101
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Defender allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
- Record
EUVD-2026-31101- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-h776-j9jw-992p
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Defender allows an...
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Defender allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
- Record
GHSA-h776-j9jw-992p- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CISA KEV No score
Microsoft Defender Link Following Vulnerability
Microsoft Defender contains a link following vulnerability that allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
- Record
CVE-2026-41091- Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Defender allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
- Record
CVE-2026-41091- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | 0xBlackash/CVE-2026-41091 | 2026-05-21 |
| PoC in GitHub | ridhinva/defender-privilege-escalation-scanner | 2026-05-22 |
| PoC in GitHub | tc4dy/CVE-2026-41091-PoC-Exploit | 2026-06-20 |
| PoC in GitHub | s4m98/RedSun- | 2026-08-09 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| exploitation, exploits | ||
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, CISA KEV, NVD, PoC in GitHub |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-41091 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Microsoft Defender, published May 20, 2026. CISA lists it as known to be exploited, since May 20, 2026. EUVD reports exploitation since May 20, 2026. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 8.20%, the 94th percentile. No source names a fixed version.