{"dataType": "CVE_RECORD", "dataVersion": "5.2", "cveMetadata": {"cveId": "CVE-2026-41091", "assignerOrgId": "f38d906d-7342-40ea-92c1-6c4a2c6478c8", "state": "PUBLISHED", "assignerShortName": "microsoft", "dateReserved": "2026-04-16T19:12:36.195Z", "datePublished": "2026-05-20T13:09:13.634Z", "dateUpdated": "2026-05-20T13:53:35.454Z"}, "containers": {"cna": {"title": "Microsoft Defender Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability", "datePublic": "2026-05-19T14:00:00.000Z", "cpeApplicability": [{"nodes": [{"operator": "OR", "negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"vulnerable": true, "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:malware_protection_engine:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "versionStartIncluding": "-"}]}]}], "affected": [{"vendor": "Microsoft", "product": "Microsoft Malware Protection Engine", "versions": [{"version": "-", "status": "affected"}]}], "descriptions": [{"value": "Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Defender allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.", "lang": "en-US"}], "problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"description": "CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')", "lang": "en-US", "type": "CWE", "cweId": "CWE-59"}]}], "providerMetadata": {"orgId": "f38d906d-7342-40ea-92c1-6c4a2c6478c8", "shortName": "microsoft", "dateUpdated": "2026-05-20T13:53:35.454Z"}, "references": [{"name": "Microsoft Defender Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability", "tags": ["vendor-advisory", "patch"], "url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-41091"}], "metrics": [{"format": "CVSS", "scenarios": [{"lang": "en-US", "value": "GENERAL"}], "cvssV3_1": {"version": "3.1", "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "baseScore": 7.8, "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C"}}]}}}

{}

{"cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Defender allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally."}], "id": "CVE-2026-41091", "lastModified": "2026-05-20T13:57:15.740", "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"cvssData": {"attackComplexity": "LOW", "attackVector": "LOCAL", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "baseScore": 7.8, "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "userInteraction": "NONE", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "version": "3.1"}, "exploitabilityScore": 1.8, "impactScore": 5.9, "source": "secure@microsoft.com", "type": "Primary"}]}, "published": "2026-05-20T13:16:29.173", "references": [{"source": "secure@microsoft.com", "url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-41091"}], "sourceIdentifier": "secure@microsoft.com", "vulnStatus": "Awaiting Analysis", "weaknesses": [{"description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-59"}], "source": "secure@microsoft.com", "type": "Primary"}]}

{}

{"affected": [{"configurations": [{"platform": null, "status": "affected", "versions": {"scheme": "generic", "value": "[0,*]"}}], "enrichment": {"confidence": 100.0, "confidence_source": "inferred", "scores": [{"score": 100.0, "source": "inferred"}, {"score": 100.0, "source": "matching"}]}, "original": {"product": "Microsoft Malware Protection Engine", "source": "cna", "vendor": "Microsoft"}, "product": "malware_protection_engine", "vendor": "microsoft"}], "created": "2026-05-20T14:45:32.836785+00:00", "updated": "2026-05-20T15:15:06.194203+00:00", "vendors": ["microsoft", "microsoft$PRODUCT$malware_protection_engine"]}