CVE-2026-81963
Windows Update Stack Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Update Stack 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
Windows Update Stack Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Update Stack allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
- Record
CVE-2026-81963- 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:F/RL:O/RC:C - Weakness
- CWE-59, CWE-284
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-73889
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Update Stack allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
- Record
EUVD-2026-73889- 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:F/RL:O/RC:C - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-4j4j-2wjq-mxqj
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Update Stack allows an...
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Update Stack allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
- Record
GHSA-4j4j-2wjq-mxqj- 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 Windows Link Following Vulnerability
Microsoft Windows Update Stack contains a link following vulnerability that allows a local attacker to escalate privileges locally up to SYSTEM.
- Record
CVE-2026-81963- Weakness
- CWE-59, CWE-284
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Update Stack allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
- Record
CVE-2026-81963- 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, CWE-284
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
- microsoft windows
- microsoft windows 11 version 23h2
- microsoft windows 11 version 24h2
- microsoft windows 11 version 25h2
- microsoft windows 11 version 26h1
- microsoft windows server 2025
- microsoft windows server 2025 (server core installation)
- microsoft windows 11 23h2
- microsoft windows 11 24h2
- microsoft windows 11 25h2
- microsoft windows 11 26h1
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | rsah35404-star/stunning-octo-doodle | 2026-10-19 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| exploitation | ||
| 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-2026-81963 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Microsoft Windows, published September 8, 2026. CISA lists it as known to be exploited, since September 8, 2026. EUVD reports exploitation since September 8, 2026. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.39%, the 33rd percentile. No source names a fixed version.