ACTIVELY EXPLOITED
CVE-2026-81963: Microsoft Windows Link Following Vulnerability
| Vendor | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Product | Windows |
| Actively exploited | Yes, according to CISA KEV |
| Added to CISA KEV | 8 Sep 2026 |
| CISA federal deadline | 22 Sep 2026 |
| Weakness (CWE) | CWE-284, CWE-59 |
| NVD published | 10 Nov 2026 |
Required action (CISA's text)
Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
Description (NVD)
Microsoft Windows Update Stack contains a link following vulnerability that allows a local attacker to escalate privileges locally up to SYSTEM.
Vendor advisories
SOURCES
Other Microsoft flaws
- patchtuesday:2026-11: Vulnerability in Microsoft
- CVE-2026-124194: Microsoft Office Outlook Missing User Interaction for Potentially Unsafe Action Vulnerability
- CVE-2026-96951: Microsoft Windows Command Injection Vulnerability
- CVE-2026-65660: Microsoft SharePoint Code Injection Vulnerability
- CVE-2026-85880: Microsoft Windows Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Data from NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS and vendor advisories. Updated 10 Nov 2026.