CVE Details
CVE-2026-81963
Microsoft Windows Link Following Vulnerability
Published: 2026-09-08
CVSS: 7.8 HIGH
Product: Microsoft Windows
Due Date: 2026-09-22
Microsoft Windows Update Stack contains a link following vulnerability that allows a local attacker to escalate privileges locally up to SYSTEM.
GitHub PoC
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or contain malware. Use caution and review code before running anything.
No GitHub PoC data.
FIRST EPSS
EPSS estimates the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Higher values indicate higher likelihood of real-world exploitation.
No EPSS data.
Timeline
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GitHub
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References
Show Raw Data
| Key | Remaining Key | Value |
|---|---|---|
| dataType | CVE_RECORD | |
| dataVersion | 5.2 | |
| cveMetadata > | cveId | CVE-2026-81963 |
| cveMetadata > | assignerOrgId | f38d906d-7342-40ea-92c1-6c4a2c6478c8 |
| cveMetadata > | state | PUBLISHED |
| cveMetadata > | assignerShortName | microsoft |
| cveMetadata > | dateReserved | 2026-08-27T20:58:07.631Z |
| cveMetadata > | datePublished | 2026-09-08T17:19:13.121Z |
| cveMetadata > | dateUpdated | 2026-09-08T18:48:21.786Z |
| containers > | cna > title | Windows Update Stack Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability |
| containers > | cna > datePublic | 2026-09-08T14:00:00.000Z |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > operator | OR |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > negate | False |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 0 > vulnerable | True |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 0 > criteria | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 0 > versionStartIncluding | 10.0.26100.0 |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 0 > versionEndExcluding | 10.0.26100.33438 |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 1 > vulnerable | True |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 1 > criteria | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:* |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 1 > versionStartIncluding | 10.0.26200.0 |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 1 > versionEndExcluding | 10.0.26200.9445 |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 2 > vulnerable | True |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 2 > criteria | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:* |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 2 > versionStartIncluding | 10.0.22631.0 |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 2 > versionEndExcluding | 10.0.22631.7582 |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 3 > vulnerable | True |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 3 > criteria | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:* |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 3 > versionStartIncluding | 10.0.22631.0 |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 3 > versionEndExcluding | 10.0.22631.7582 |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 4 > vulnerable | True |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 4 > criteria | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:* |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 4 > versionStartIncluding | 10.0.26100.0 |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 4 > versionEndExcluding | 10.0.26100.9445 |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 5 > vulnerable | True |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 5 > criteria | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 5 > versionStartIncluding | 10.0.26100.0 |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 5 > versionEndExcluding | 10.0.26100.33438 |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 6 > vulnerable | True |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 6 > criteria | cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26H1:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:* |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 6 > versionStartIncluding | 10.0.28000.0 |
| containers > | cna > cpeApplicability > 0 > nodes > 0 > cpeMatch > 6 > versionEndExcluding | 10.0.28000.2954 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > vendor | Microsoft |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > product | Windows 11 version 23H2 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > platforms > 0 | ARM64-based Systems |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > versions > 0 > version | 10.0.22631.0 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > versions > 0 > lessThan | 10.0.22631.7582 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > versions > 0 > versionType | custom |
| containers > | cna > affected > 0 > versions > 0 > status | affected |
| containers > | cna > affected > 1 > vendor | Microsoft |
| containers > | cna > affected > 1 > product | Windows 11 Version 23H2 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 1 > platforms > 0 | x64-based Systems |
| containers > | cna > affected > 1 > versions > 0 > version | 10.0.22631.0 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 1 > versions > 0 > lessThan | 10.0.22631.7582 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 1 > versions > 0 > versionType | custom |
| containers > | cna > affected > 1 > versions > 0 > status | affected |
| containers > | cna > affected > 2 > vendor | Microsoft |
| containers > | cna > affected > 2 > product | Windows 11 Version 24H2 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 2 > platforms > 0 | ARM64-based Systems |
| containers > | cna > affected > 2 > platforms > 1 | x64-based Systems |
| containers > | cna > affected > 2 > versions > 0 > version | 10.0.26100.0 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 2 > versions > 0 > lessThan | 10.0.26100.9445 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 2 > versions > 0 > versionType | custom |
| containers > | cna > affected > 2 > versions > 0 > status | affected |
| containers > | cna > affected > 3 > vendor | Microsoft |
| containers > | cna > affected > 3 > product | Windows 11 Version 25H2 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 3 > platforms > 0 | ARM64-based Systems |
| containers > | cna > affected > 3 > platforms > 1 | x64-based Systems |
| containers > | cna > affected > 3 > versions > 0 > version | 10.0.26200.0 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 3 > versions > 0 > lessThan | 10.0.26200.9445 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 3 > versions > 0 > versionType | custom |
| containers > | cna > affected > 3 > versions > 0 > status | affected |
| containers > | cna > affected > 4 > vendor | Microsoft |
| containers > | cna > affected > 4 > product | Windows 11 version 26H1 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 4 > platforms > 0 | ARM64-based Systems |
| containers > | cna > affected > 4 > platforms > 1 | x64-based Systems |
| containers > | cna > affected > 4 > versions > 0 > version | 10.0.28000.0 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 4 > versions > 0 > lessThan | 10.0.28000.2954 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 4 > versions > 0 > versionType | custom |
| containers > | cna > affected > 4 > versions > 0 > status | affected |
| containers > | cna > affected > 5 > vendor | Microsoft |
| containers > | cna > affected > 5 > product | Windows Server 2025 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 5 > platforms > 0 | x64-based Systems |
| containers > | cna > affected > 5 > versions > 0 > version | 10.0.26100.0 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 5 > versions > 0 > lessThan | 10.0.26100.33438 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 5 > versions > 0 > versionType | custom |
| containers > | cna > affected > 5 > versions > 0 > status | affected |
| containers > | cna > affected > 6 > vendor | Microsoft |
| containers > | cna > affected > 6 > product | Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) |
| containers > | cna > affected > 6 > platforms > 0 | x64-based Systems |
| containers > | cna > affected > 6 > versions > 0 > version | 10.0.26100.0 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 6 > versions > 0 > lessThan | 10.0.26100.33438 |
| containers > | cna > affected > 6 > versions > 0 > versionType | custom |
| containers > | cna > affected > 6 > versions > 0 > status | affected |
| containers > | cna > descriptions > 0 > value | Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Update Stack allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. |
| containers > | cna > descriptions > 0 > lang | en-US |
| containers > | cna > problemTypes > 0 > descriptions > 0 > description | CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') |
| containers > | cna > problemTypes > 0 > descriptions > 0 > lang | en-US |
| containers > | cna > problemTypes > 0 > descriptions > 0 > type | CWE |
| containers > | cna > problemTypes > 0 > descriptions > 0 > cweId | CWE-59 |
| containers > | cna > problemTypes > 0 > descriptions > 1 > description | CWE-284: Improper Access Control |
| containers > | cna > problemTypes > 0 > descriptions > 1 > lang | en-US |
| containers > | cna > problemTypes > 0 > descriptions > 1 > type | CWE |
| containers > | cna > problemTypes > 0 > descriptions > 1 > cweId | CWE-284 |
| containers > | cna > providerMetadata > orgId | f38d906d-7342-40ea-92c1-6c4a2c6478c8 |
| containers > | cna > providerMetadata > shortName | microsoft |
| containers > | cna > providerMetadata > dateUpdated | 2026-09-08T18:39:23.996Z |
| containers > | cna > references > 0 > name | Windows Update Stack Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability |
| containers > | cna > references > 0 > tags > 0 | vendor-advisory |
| containers > | cna > references > 0 > tags > 1 | patch |
| containers > | cna > references > 0 > url | https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-81963 |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > format | CVSS |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > scenarios > 0 > lang | en-US |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > scenarios > 0 > value | GENERAL |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV3_1 > version | 3.1 |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV3_1 > baseSeverity | HIGH |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV3_1 > baseScore | 7.8 |
| containers > | cna > metrics > 0 > cvssV3_1 > vectorString | 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 |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > type | ssvc |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > id | CVE-2026-81963 |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > role | CISA Coordinator |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > options > 0 > Exploitation | active |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > options > 1 > Automatable | no |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > options > 2 > Technical Impact | total |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > version | 2.0.3 |
| containers > | adp > 0 > metrics > 0 > other > content > timestamp | 2026-09-08T18:44:08.999075Z |
| containers > | adp > 0 > references > 0 > url | https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-81963 |
| containers > | adp > 0 > references > 0 > tags > 0 | government-resource |
| containers > | adp > 0 > title | CISA ADP Vulnrichment |
| containers > | adp > 0 > providerMetadata > orgId | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 |
| containers > | adp > 0 > providerMetadata > shortName | CISA-ADP |
| containers > | adp > 0 > providerMetadata > dateUpdated | 2026-09-08T18:48:21.786Z |