Microsoft Windows PowerShell: Local privilege escalation via link following
Summary
A link-following flaw (CWE-59) in Windows PowerShell allows an attacker who already has a local account to elevate privileges on the affected Windows system. The CVE record rates it High (CVSS 3.1 base score 7.0) and the attacker can gain high confidentiality, integrity and availability impact. Exploitation requires local access and a certain complexity, and the risk is highest on multi-user, terminal server and shared hosts.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016 (including Server Core): builds before 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows 10 Version 1809 and Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core): builds before 10.0.17763.9487
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 and 22H2: builds before 10.0.19044.7846 and 10.0.19045.7846
- Windows 11 Version 23H2: builds before 10.0.22631.7711
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 and 25H2: builds before 10.0.26100.9968 and 10.0.26200.9968
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: builds before 10.0.28000.3501
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: builds before 10.0.26300.9968
- Windows Server 2022: builds before 10.0.20348.5870
Fixed in
Security updates released on 10 November 2026 (Patch Tuesday). Fixed builds per the CVE record are listed above; the per-SKU fixed build should be confirmed with the MSRC advisory before rollout. Hotpatch devices should check KB5135385.
Workaround
No workaround known.
Exploitation
- No exploitation in the wild known at the time of research.
- No public proof-of-concept found.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 cumulative update (or hotpatch) on all affected Windows clients and servers, prioritising multi-user, terminal server and remote-access hosts.
- Check older Windows 10 builds (1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2) first and confirm that they still receive security updates.
- Limit local interactive logons and restrict who can run PowerShell scripts from writable or shared directories.
- Verify the installed build against the MSRC advisory and monitor for exploitation.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows PowerShell
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation unlikely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5131291, KB5131085, KB5131096, KB5131090, KB5131087, KB5135385
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-124224 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-124224 www.cve.org
- Microsoft KB5135385 hotpatch note support.microsoft.com
- Strix AI: CVE-2026-124224 (third-party mirror) www.strix.ai
- Senserva: KB5131096 CVE table senserva.com
- Rapid7: Patch Tuesday November 2026 review www.rapid7.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, 08:17.
Original description (NVD)
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows PowerShell 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.
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