What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-21517?

CVE-2026-21517 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 4.7 (Medium). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.0%.

How to fix or mitigate CVE-2026-21517?

Within 30 days: Identify affected systems and apply vendor patches as part of regular patch cycle. Monitor vendor channels for patch availability.

Windows CVE-2026-21517

MEDIUM

Improper Link Resolution Before File Access (CWE-59)

2026-02-10 secure@microsoft.com

Windows Microsoft Windows App

4.7

CVSS 3.1 · NVD

View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-59 OWASP Top 10:2025 A01:2025 - Broken Access Control ASVS 5.0 V5 - File Handling Symlink resolution safety
Impact	CVSS 4.7 (MEDIUM). Attack vector: Local. Complexity: High. Privileges required: Low. User interaction: None. Exploitable via local access.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to compromise the affected system.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).

Patch available 0.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026

Windows App for Mac is susceptible to privilege escalation through improper symbolic link resolution, enabling authenticated local attackers to bypass access controls and gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation during file operations and requires low-level user privileges and specific system conditions to exploit. No patch is currently available.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)

v1 Mar 12, 2026 - 22:02 CVSS 4.7

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows App for Mac allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. [CVSS 4.7 MEDIUM]

RemediationAI

Monitor vendor advisories for a patch.

Affected Packages

microsoft windows_app_for_mac_11_3_2 fix: Windows App for Mac 11.3.2

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in microsoft

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Classified as CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access). Affects Windows App. Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows App for Mac allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Know when Windows gets its next vulnerability

Watch products and get an email when something new is published
Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

Continue with Google Continue with GitHub

No credit card · 7-day full trial

Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 4.7 MEDIUM

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

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

High

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

High

Availability

None

DescriptionCVE.org

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows App for Mac allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2026-21517 presents moderate security risk rated CVSS 4.7. Exploitation could compromise the security of affected deployments. Organizations should apply vendor updates when available and monitor for exploitation.

Business Impact: Low

Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. If patching is delayed: restrict network access and enable monitoring.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

0.0%

Top 94% exploitable

Data Quality

3 sources

Confidence: Low

NVD

CVE.org

EPSS

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue

Severity MEDIUM

CISA KEV No

Public POC No

EPSS 0.0%

Patch available Yes

Active threat No

Deciding rule

MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Defer

Exploitation· derived

None

System Exposure· derived

Small

Automatable· derived

Human Impact

Low

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: 0

CVSS: +24

PoC: 0

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: 0

Gov advisory: 0

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:windows_app:*:*:*:*:*:macos:*:*

More in Windows

View all

CVE-2025-52691 CRITICAL Emergency POC

10.0 Dec 29

Unauthenticated remote code execution in SmarterTools SmarterMail lets an attacker upload arbitrary files to any locatio

CVE-2019-0803 HIGH Act Now POC

7.8 Apr 09

Windows Win32k fails to properly handle objects in memory, allowing local privilege escalation exploited in the wild in

CVE-2020-1472 MEDIUM Act Now POC

5.5 Aug 17

A privilege escalation vulnerability (CVSS 5.5). Risk factors: actively exploited (KEV-listed), EPSS 94% exploitation pr

CVE-2025-33053 HIGH Act Now POC

8.8 Jun 10

Windows Internet Shortcut Files (.url) contain an external control vulnerability (CVE-2025-33053, CVSS 8.8) that enables

CVE-2025-33073 HIGH Act Now POC

8.8 Jun 10

Windows SMB contains an improper access control vulnerability (CVE-2025-33073, CVSS 8.8) enabling authenticated attacker

CVE-2013-10047 CRITICAL Emergency POC

9.3 Aug 01

An unrestricted file upload vulnerability exists in MiniWeb HTTP Server <= Build 300 that allows unauthenticated remote

CVE-2012-10030 CRITICAL Emergency POC

9.3 Aug 05

FreeFloat FTP Server contains multiple critical design flaws that allow unauthenticated remote attackers to upload arbit

CVE-2025-34101 CRITICAL Emergency POC

9.3 Jul 10

Serviio Media Server versions 1.4 through 1.8 on Windows contain an unauthenticated command injection in the /rest/actio

CVE-2025-34095 CRITICAL Emergency POC

9.3 Jul 10

Mako Server versions 2.5 and 2.6 contain an unauthenticated OS command injection via the tutorial interface at examples/

CVE-2025-11953 CRITICAL Act Now POC

9.8 Nov 03

React Native Metro Development Server binds to external interfaces by default and contains an OS command injection endpo

CVE-2026-96951 HIGH Act Now POC

8.8 Oct 13

Command injection in the Windows Shell lets remote, unauthenticated attackers bypass a Windows security feature and then

CVE-2025-24054 MEDIUM This Month POC

6.5 Mar 11

External control of file name or path in Windows NTLM allows an unauthorized attacker to perform spoofing over a network

Same weakness CWE-59 – Improper Link Resolution Before File Access

View all

CVE-2020-0787 HIGH POC

7.8

CVE-2015-1130 HIGH POC

7.8

CVE-2015-5287 HIGH POC

7.8

CVE-2026-41091 HIGH POC

7.8

CVE-2019-1069 HIGH POC

7.8

CVE-2026-81963 HIGH POC

7.8

CVE-2016-6664 HIGH POC

7.0

CVE-2025-60710 HIGH POC

7.8

References

Advisories & patches

ADVISORY https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-21517

Search Externally

GitHub PoC

Exploit-DB PacketStorm Snyk Rapid7 Nuclei Templates Trickest PoC

Back