CVE-2026-41091 — Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Defe

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

01What is this vulnerability?

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

02Affected products

No structured affected-product list available — see references below for vendor advisories.

03Active exploitation status

Yes — actively exploited. Added to the CISA KEV catalog on 2026-05-20. Ransomware use: Unknown.

04Recommended remediation

• Patch to a fixed version listed in the vendor advisory (see references below).
• Mitigate with WAF rules, network egress filters, or feature flags where the patch is not yet available.
• Hunt historical logs for exploitation indicators — see Detection signatures below.

05Technical details

For the full vendor write-up, exploit chains, and reference implementations, see the references list in section 09.

06Detection signatures

Open the Sigma generator with a pre-filled prompt for this CVE to draft a starting detection in your stack of choice:

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07Related CVEs

No directly-cited follow-up CVEs in the KB record for this advisory. The references list in section 09 carries the vendor cross-references.

08Timeline

• Published: 2026-05-20T13:16:29.173
• Last modified: 2026-05-20T19:06:36.850
• Added to CISA KEV: 2026-05-20

09References

• msrc.microsoft.com — https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-41091
• www.cisa.gov — https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-…