Microsoft Windows Installer: Elevation of privilege via link following
Summary
Windows Installer does not handle file links correctly before accessing files (CWE-59, link following). An authorized local user with low privileges can abuse this to gain higher privileges on the system. The attack requires a local account and no user interaction, so it is mainly a risk on shared or multi-user systems and servers. CVSS 7.8 (High).
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607: 10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows 10 Version 1809: 10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.9487
- Windows 10 Version 21H2: 10.0.19044.0 before 10.0.19044.7846
- Windows 10 Version 22H2: 10.0.19045.0 before 10.0.19045.7846
- Windows 11 Version 23H2: 10.0.22631.0 before 10.0.22631.7711
- Windows 11 Version 24H2: 10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.9974
- Windows 11 Version 25H2: 10.0.26200.0 before 10.0.26200.9974
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: 10.0.28000.0 before 10.0.28000.3501
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: 10.0.26300.0 before 10.0.26300.9974
- Windows Server 2016 (including Server Core): 10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core): 10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.9487
- Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.0 before 10.0.20348.5870
Fixed in
- Install the Microsoft security update for November 2026 (Patch Tuesday, published 2026-11-10).
- The build numbers above are the first fixed builds.
- Windows Server 2025 is not listed in the official CVE record. A third-party source gives 10.0.26100.33822; verify this in the MSRC Security Update Guide before rollout.
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor workaround is known. Install the update.
Exploitation
- The CVSS temporal vector sets exploit code maturity to unproven (E:U).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- No public proof of concept or known exploitation was found in the reviewed sources. One report does not name the exploited CVE, so this could not be fully confirmed.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 Windows security updates, starting with multi-user systems, terminal and RDS servers, and file servers.
- Verify exact fixed builds in the MSRC Security Update Guide before rollout.
- Limit local interactive logons on shared systems and reduce local administrator rights.
- Monitor for unusual privilege changes or file operations by standard users until patched.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Installer
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5131291, KB5131085, KB5131096, KB5131090, KB5131087, KB5132061
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- MSRC Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-105532 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-105532 (CVE Program) www.cve.org
- Rapid7: Patch Tuesday November 2026 analysis www.rapid7.com
- Senserva: KB5131096 summary (third-party) senserva.com
- Strix: CVE-2026-105532 (third-party aggregator) www.strix.ai
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 11 Nov 2026, 04:34.
Original description (NVD)
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Installer allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
Affected? We can help.
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