CVE-2026-20941 - Vulnerability Details - OpenCVE

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

No CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

No EPSS score available.

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

Vendors	Products
Microsoft Subscribe	Windows 11 24h2 Subscribe Windows 11 25h2 Subscribe Windows Server 2025 Subscribe

No data.

No data.

No data.

Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References

Link	Providers
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-20941

History

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:15:00 +0000

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics		ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:15:00 +0000

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description		Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Host Process for Windows Tasks allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Title		Host Process for Windows Tasks Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
First Time appeared		Microsoft Microsoft windows 11 24h2 Microsoft windows 11 25h2 Microsoft windows Server 2025
Weaknesses		CWE-59
CPEs		cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24H2:::::::arm64:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25H2:::::::arm64:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025::::::::
Vendors & Products		Microsoft Microsoft windows 11 24h2 Microsoft windows 11 25h2 Microsoft windows Server 2025
References		https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-20941
Metrics		cvssV3_1 `{'score': 7.8, 'vector': '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'}`

Projects

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MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: microsoft

Published: 2026-01-13T17:57:10.464Z

Updated: 2026-01-13T18:30:09.709Z

Reserved: 2025-12-04T20:04:16.338Z

Link: CVE-2026-20941

Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-01-13T18:30:03.586Z

NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-01-13T18:16:21.530

Modified: 2026-01-13T18:16:21.530

Link: CVE-2026-20941

Redhat

No data.

OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses

CWE-59

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