EUVD-2026-56601
GHSA-gg46-jqg3-93wc
Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Local attack via junction planting by a standard user; no confidentiality or integrity impact; high availability impact from service crash.
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
3DescriptionCVE.org
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Management Services allows an authorized attacker to deny service locally.
AnalysisAI
Windows Management Services on Windows 11 contains an improper link resolution flaw (CWE-59) that allows an authenticated local attacker to crash or disable the service by planting a malicious symbolic link or directory junction at a file path the service accesses. Affected builds span Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1, with patched builds confirmed by Microsoft via MSRC. No active exploitation has been confirmed in CISA KEV, and no public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis.
Technical ContextAI
CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access, commonly called 'link following') arises when a privileged component resolves a symbolic link or filesystem junction without validating the resolved target before performing a file operation. Windows Management Services - present by default in Windows 11 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1 - fails to perform safe path resolution, allowing a low-privileged local user to redirect the service's file access to an arbitrary target. On Windows, directory junctions can be created by standard user accounts without the SeCreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege, making this a realistic exploitation path. The CVSS vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L confirms a local, low-complexity attack requiring only a standard user session. The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the vulnerability does not allow breakout beyond the service boundary, and impact is limited to availability (A:H), consistent with a targeted denial-of-service against the service.
RemediationAI
Apply the Microsoft security update that advances Windows 11 24H2 to build 10.0.26100.9168 or later, Windows 11 25H2 to build 10.0.26200.9168 or later, and Windows 11 26H1 to build 10.0.28000.2704 or later, as detailed in the MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-70348. If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict interactive local logon rights to only necessary administrative accounts via Group Policy (User Rights Assignment → 'Allow log on locally'), reducing the pool of principals who can plant malicious junctions - though this may disrupt legitimate user workflows on shared systems. No vendor-documented workaround was provided in the available references beyond applying the patch.
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Same weakness CWE-59 – Improper Link Resolution Before File Access
View allSame technique Information Disclosure
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External POC / Exploit Code
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