7.8
High
Exploited
CVE-2026-41091 Microsoft Defender Link Following Vulnerability
Active exploitation observed
· CISA KEV catalogue
Required action
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Ransomware campaigns
Not observed so far
Weakness
CWE-59
Description
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Defender allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Affected products and versions
| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Malware Protection Engine 1.1 | 1.1.0.0 → < 1.1.26040.8 | 1.1.26040.8 |
References
- Microsoft Defender Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability msrc.microsoft.com
Timeline
- Published
- Added to the KEV catalogue
- Last modified
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