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CVE-2026-42989 Microsoft CVE debrief

CVE-2026-42989 is a HIGH-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, with a CVSS score of 7.8. The vulnerability is caused by improper link resolution before file access, also known as 'link following,' in the Winlogon component. This allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.

Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows 10 Version 1607
CVSS
HIGH 7.8
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-06-09
Original CVE updated
2026-06-11
Advisory published
2026-06-09
Advisory updated
2026-06-11

Who should care

Administrators and users of affected Microsoft Windows systems should prioritize patching this vulnerability to prevent potential privilege escalation attacks.

Technical summary

The vulnerability is caused by improper link resolution before file access in the Winlogon component. This allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score is 7.8, indicating a HIGH severity level.

Defensive priority

Patching is recommended as soon as possible. Microsoft has released a vendor advisory for this vulnerability, which can be found at [ref-4](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-42989).

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply patches or updates provided by Microsoft to vulnerable systems.
  • Review and implement secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Evidence notes

The CVE record and details can be found at [cve-org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-42989). The NVD detail page is available at [nvd](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-42989).

Official resources

CVE-2026-42989 was published on 2026-06-09T17:17:15.003Z and modified on 2026-06-11T15:45:14.920Z.