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CVE-2026-41091

Microsoft Defender Link Following

7.8 HIGHActively exploited (CISA KEV)EPSS 0.44%
  1. Published20 May 2026
  2. Added to CISA KEV20 May 2026
  3. Remediation due3 Jun 2026
Actively exploited (CISA KEV)

Microsoft Defender contains a link following vulnerability that allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Added to KEV: 20 May 2026Federal remediation due: 3 Jun 2026

Description

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

CVSS 3.1 breakdown

Attack vectorLocal
Attack complexityLow
Privileges requiredLow
User interactionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

Microsoft Malware Protection Engine≥ 1.1.26030.3008 < 1.1.26040.8

Remediation

Fixed in
Microsoft Malware Protection Engine≥ 1.1.26040.8

References

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Frequently asked

Is CVE-2026-41091 being actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2026-41091 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added 20 May 2026.

How severe is CVE-2026-41091?

CVE-2026-41091 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated high. EPSS estimates a 0.44% probability of exploitation.

Which products are affected by CVE-2026-41091?

Affected products include Microsoft Malware Protection Engine.

How do I fix CVE-2026-41091?

Upgrade affected software to a fixed version, for example Microsoft Malware Protection Engine 1.1.26040.8 or later, then confirm no affected versions remain in your inventory.

How Secuno handles this

Secuno correlates vulnerabilities like CVE-2026-41091 against the real software inventory on every managed device, every day. Rather than a static severity, each match is scored in context: exploit availability, EPSS, the asset's exposure, and business criticality decide where it lands in the queue. Because it is on the CISA KEV list, Secuno flags any affected asset as top-priority automatically. If an affected version is present anywhere across your portfolio, it surfaces automatically with a prioritised remediation path.

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Data from the NVD, CISA KEV catalog and FIRST EPSS. CVSS 3.1 base score shown where available.