CVE-2026-41091

⚠️ high

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

CVSS Score

7.8

High

EPSS Score

5.9

Exploit Probability

Published Date

2026-05-20

First Seen: 2026-05-21

This CVE is Moderate Risk - more severe than 69.6% of all 328,009 vulnerabilities in our database.

#99,625

Above average severity

Severity Percentile

🔍 Exploitation Status

Active

Exploits detected in the wild

⚙️ Automatable

Requires human interaction

💥 Technical Impact

Total

Complete system compromise possible

SSVC data provided by CISA

Last Modified 2026-05-20

Source NVD 🔗

CVSS Vector 3.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE IDs (Weakness Types)

CWE-59

📦 Affected Products 1

Vendor	Product	Status	Affected Versions
microsoft	malware_protection_engine	Affected	> 1.1.26030.3008 < 1.1.26040.8

Vendor Advisory

Third Party Advisory US Government Resource

CVE ID	Severity	CVSS	EPSS	Summary	Published
CVE-2026-45584	⚠️ high	8.1	0.0	Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Defender allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.	2026-05-20
CVE-2023-33156	🔶 medium	6.3	0.1	Microsoft Defender Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	2023-07-11
CVE-2023-24860	⚠️ high	7.5	4.1	Microsoft Defender Denial of Service Vulnerability	2023-04-11
CVE-2023-23389	🔶 medium	6.3	0.1	Microsoft Defender Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	2023-03-14
CVE-2022-37971	⚠️ high	7.1	0.3	Microsoft Windows Defender Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	2022-10-11
CVE-2022-24548	🔶 medium	5.5	4.3	Microsoft Defender Denial of Service Vulnerability	2022-04-15

These CVEs affect the same products