CVE-2026-81963

highpriority · act · 90OT risk · criticalKEV · exploitedEPSS 0.004 · 32 %ileexploit · PoCDENLRUUS
grimoire priorityP0 · Act now
Exploitable?
Yes · in the wild
CISA KEV · 1 exploit · PoC
Likely / severe?
0.39% (32nd) EPSS
CVSS 7.8 · high
Is it mine?
77 products
Check your exposure
Who says so?
4 sources
fstec_bdu · cert_bund · msrc_csaf · ncsc_nl

added 2026-09-08remediate by 2026-09-22

required action 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.

EPSS · scored 2026-10-22

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.

01

remediations

Vendor fix, mitigation, or workaround guidance, as published by each source.

A vendor fix is available.

02

cvss

Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.

7.8
010

base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode

v3.17.8highCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hprimary · secure@microsoft.com USexploitability 1.8 · impact 5.9
v3.17.8highAV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hsecondary · FSTEC (BDU) RU
v3.17.8highCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:Hsecondary · CVSS-BT (t0sche)
v3.17.8highCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:Csecondary · NCSC-NL NL
v3.17.8highCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:O/RC:Csecondary · Microsoft Security Response Center US
03

ssvc

A stakeholder decision — act, attend, or track — from exploitation and impact.

Exploitation: active · Automatable: no · Technical Impact: totalcoordinatorcisa_ssvcUS
04

weaknesses

The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.

CWE-284USCWE-284USCWE-59USCWE-59USCWE-59USCWE-59US
05

exploits (1)

Public proof-of-concept and weaponised exploit code.

06

affected products (77)

Products and version ranges known to be affected.

showing 20 of 77
07

advisories (3)

Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.

  • NCSC-2026-0353Kwetsbaarheden verholpen in Microsoft WindowsNL2026-09-08csaf · ncsc_nlNL

    Microsoft heeft 666 kwetsbaarheden verholpen in Windows.

  • WID-SEC-W-2026-3243Microsoft Windows: Mehrere SchwachstellenDeutsch2026-09-08csaf · cert_bundDE

    Ein Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in verschiedenen Versionen von Microsoft Windows Server, Microsoft Windows 10 und Microsoft Windows 11 ausnutzen, um seine Privilegien zu erhöhen, um einen Denial of Service herbeizuführen, um Informationen offenzulegen und um beliebigen Code auszuführen.

  • msrc_CVE-2026-81963Windows Update Stack Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability2026-09-08csaf · msrc_csafUS

    To determine the support lifecycle for your software, see the Microsoft Support Lifecycle: https://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle

08

also known as (1)

Other names and identifiers for this entity.

09

sources

Which sources assert this record, and when.

fstec_bducert_bundmsrc_csafncsc_nlNVDCVE.orgMITRE
published 2026-09-08modified 2026-09-09
10

references (2) nvd

External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.

scry

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