Windows Maps: Local privilege escalation via link following

Summary

Improper link resolution (CWE-59) in Windows Maps before file access allows a local, authorized attacker to elevate privileges. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.0 (HIGH). Exploitation requires high attack complexity, low privileges and no user interaction, so an attacker needs an existing local user session or malware on the host.

Affected

• Windows 10 Version 1607 (builds before 10.0.14393.9688)
• Windows 10 Version 1809 (builds before 10.0.17763.9487)
• Windows 10 Version 21H2 (builds before 10.0.19044.7846)
• Windows 10 Version 22H2 (builds before 10.0.19045.7846)
• Windows 11 Version 23H2 (builds before 10.0.22631.7711)
• Windows 11 Version 24H2 (builds before 10.0.26100.9974)
• Windows 11 Version 25H2 (builds before 10.0.26200.9974)
• Windows 11 Version 26H1 (builds before 10.0.28000.3501)
• Windows 11 Version 26H2 (builds before 10.0.26300.9974)
• Windows Server 2016, including Server Core (builds before 10.0.14393.9688)
• Windows Server 2019, including Server Core (builds before 10.0.17763.9487)
• Windows Server 2022 (builds before 10.0.20348.5870)
• Source: Microsoft CNA record. The product list is not fully verified against the MSRC advisory.

Fixed in

• Windows 10 1607: 10.0.14393.9688 or later
• Windows 10 1809: 10.0.17763.9487 or later
• Windows 10 21H2: 10.0.19044.7846 or later
• Windows 10 22H2: 10.0.19045.7846 or later
• Windows 11 23H2: 10.0.22631.7711 or later
• Windows 11 24H2: 10.0.26100.9974 or later
• Windows 11 25H2: 10.0.26200.9974 or later
• Windows 11 26H1: 10.0.28000.3501 or later
• Windows 11 26H2: 10.0.26300.9974 or later
• Windows Server 2016: 10.0.14393.9688 or later
• Windows Server 2019: 10.0.17763.9487 or later
• Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.5870 or later
• Fixed builds are taken from the CNA record. Verify KB numbers in the MSRC advisory.

Workaround

Unknown. No vendor workaround was found in the sources.

Exploitation

• CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
• CVSS exploit code maturity E:U (unproven) as of 2026-11-10.
• No public proof of concept or in-the-wild exploitation was found. This is not confirmed absence.
• The Talos, Action1 and Anoop C. Nair coverage of November 2026 Patch Tuesday does not mention this CVE.

Our recommendation

• Install the November 2026 security updates on all affected Windows 10, 11 and Server systems, prioritising unpatched Windows 10 hosts and shared or multi-user systems.
• Plan for Windows 10 1607, 1809 and 21H2 devices that are no longer covered by ESU (ESU ended on October 13, 2026).
• Restrict interactive and local logon rights where possible, and remove Windows Maps from managed images where it is not needed.
• Check KEV status and the MSRC advisory for updates. Patch on the normal cycle, with medium priority.

Public exploits iAttack code is publicly available (PoC on GitHub, Metasploit or Exploit-DB).

PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.

Research sources

• Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-122182 msrc.microsoft.com
• CVE Record CVE-2026-122182 (CVE Program) www.cve.org
• Talos: Microsoft Patch Tuesday November 2026 blog.talosintelligence.com
• Action1: Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.action1.com
• Absolute Community: Risk and vulnerability insights (ESU context) community.absolute.com

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, 08:18.