Microsoft Windows Link Following Vulnerability

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Update Stack allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

CheckOps priority index

4.3/10 Patch within 7 days

Severity7.8

Probability0.0

Exploitation2/5

Severity = CVSS. Probability = EPSS (FIRST). Exploitation = public signals: KEV, EUVD, ransomware, EPSS above 10 %, no account required.

EPSS · today 0.39% higher than 33.5% of CVEs

CVSS 3.1 7.8 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:

Exploited for 56 days 08 Sept 2026

CISA due date 22 Sept 2026 for US federal agencies

Exploitation probability EPSS · FIRST

EPSS probability (%)Percentile among all CVEs

Exploitation signals 2 / 5

KEV catalog (CISA)08 Sept 2026
Exploited in EUVD (ENISA)08 Sept 2026
Used by ransomwareno
EPSS above 10 %0.39%
No account, over the networkno

What to do

Fix

Apply the vendor’s fix as soon as it is available.

CISA guidance: Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.

Meanwhile

Take the service off the internet or restrict access to it, watch the logs and look for signs of compromise.

Manufacturers (CRA)

Exploited vulnerability in your product: early warning to ENISA within 24 h, then notification within 72 h (Article 14 of the Cyber Resilience Act). The CRA explained

Affected products

Windows 11 Version 24H2Windows 11 Version 23H2Windows Server 2025Windows 11 version 26H1Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)Windows 11 Version 25H2Windows

Affected versions

10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.9445
10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.7582
10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438
10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.2954
10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.9445

Weaknesses (CWE)

CWE-59 CWE-284

Open source packages OSV

Affected libraries according to OSV, with fixed versions.

Timeline

08 Sept 2026
Published
08 Sept 2026
Exploitation reported (ENISA)
08 Sept 2026
Added to the KEV catalog
22 Sept 2026
CISA remediation due date

References

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