CVE-2026-41091

HIGH CISA KEV

Published May 20, 2026 Modified May 20, 2026 CWE-59

Description

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

CVSS v3.1 Score

7.8

HIGH

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

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0594

Probability of exploitation

0.91%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability

This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild.

Added: May 20, 2026 Remediation due: Jun 3, 2026

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-59 CWE-59

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
microsoft	malware_protection_engine	1.1.26030.3008 — 1.1.26040.8

References

Advisories & Patches

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-41091

Other References

https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-41091

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-41091? +

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Microsoft Defender allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH). This vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, indicating active exploitation in the wild.

How severe is CVE-2026-41091? +

CVE-2026-41091 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching. The EPSS score is 0.0594, placing it in the 1th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-41091? +

CVE-2026-41091 affects products from microsoft, specifically: malware_protection_engine. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-41091? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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