CVE-2026-61358: CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') in Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Accessibility Infrastructure (ATBroker.exe) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
This vulnerability, classified as CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access), affects Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The issue exists in the Windows Accessibility Infrastructure component (ATBroker.exe), where improper handling of symbolic links or similar link types before file access can be leveraged by an authorized local attacker to gain elevated privileges. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating high severity, with impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Microsoft has published an official fix for this vulnerability.
Potential Impact
An authorized local attacker can exploit this vulnerability to elevate their privileges on the affected system. This could lead to full system compromise, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time.
Mitigation Recommendations
An official fix is available from Microsoft. Users and administrators should apply the security update provided in the Microsoft advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-61358 to remediate this vulnerability.
CVE-2026-61358: CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') in Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1809
Description
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Accessibility Infrastructure (ATBroker.exe) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
CVSS v3.1
Score 7.8high
Affected software
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability, classified as CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access), affects Windows 10 Version 1809 (build 10.0.17763.0). The issue exists in the Windows Accessibility Infrastructure component (ATBroker.exe), where improper handling of symbolic links or similar link types before file access can be leveraged by an authorized local attacker to gain elevated privileges. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating high severity, with impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Microsoft has published an official fix for this vulnerability.
Potential Impact
An authorized local attacker can exploit this vulnerability to elevate their privileges on the affected system. This could lead to full system compromise, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time.
Mitigation Recommendations
An official fix is available from Microsoft. Users and administrators should apply the security update provided in the Microsoft advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-61358 to remediate this vulnerability.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- microsoft
- Date Reserved
- 2026-07-08T17:30:25.175Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- official-fix
- Vendor Advisory Urls
- [{"url":"https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-61358","vendor":"Microsoft"}]
Threat ID: 6a7b5800bf8831d539155811
Added to database: 08/11/2026, 17:12:32 UTC
Last enriched: 08/11/2026, 22:56:31 UTC
Last updated: 08/12/2026, 00:12:10 UTC
Views: 3
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