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CVE-2026-81963: Microsoft Windows Link Following Vulnerability

Microsoft · Windows

Listed by CISA as exploited in the wild since 8 Sep 2026. Below: exploitation status, EPSS and every published CVSS, each with its source, then affected versions and references.

Build snapshot collected · KEV catalog 2026.10.02 · EPSS of 2 Oct 2026 · not a live feed: collected once, at build time

Description

as written by CISA (KEV catalog)

Microsoft Windows Update Stack contains a link following vulnerability that allows a local attacker to escalate privileges locally up to SYSTEM.

Required action

CISA KEV

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.

Affected products and versions

CVE record · microsoft

  • Microsoft · Windows 11 version 23H2

    • affected: from 10.0.22631.0 before 10.0.22631.7582

  • Microsoft · Windows 11 Version 23H2

    • affected: from 10.0.22631.0 before 10.0.22631.7582

  • Microsoft · Windows 11 Version 24H2

    • affected: from 10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.9445

  • Microsoft · Windows 11 Version 25H2

    • affected: from 10.0.26200.0 before 10.0.26200.9445

  • Microsoft · Windows 11 version 26H1

    • affected: from 10.0.28000.0 before 10.0.28000.2954

  • Microsoft · Windows Server 2025

    • affected: from 10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.33438

  • Microsoft · Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)

    • affected: from 10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.33438

Status words (affected, unaffected, unknown) and version bounds are copied from the record. An upper bound such as “before 7.1.0” usually marks the first fixed version; confirm in the vendor advisory before planning an upgrade.

References

CISA KEV notes and CVE record

EPSS over the last 30 days

See also: all Microsoft entries in KEV · the full KEV catalog

Related entries

Other Microsoft entries in KEV

Added in the same week (see the week)

Questions about CVE-2026-81963

Is CVE-2026-81963 being exploited?

Yes, according to CISA. CVE-2026-81963 was added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 8 Sep 2026, which CISA does only with reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. The catalog field for ransomware campaign use says "Unknown".

What is the deadline to remediate CVE-2026-81963?

CISA set 22 Sep 2026 as the due date for US Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies. The date is binding only for those agencies; other organisations can read it as a measure of urgency.

What is the EPSS score of CVE-2026-81963?

0.39%, in the 31th percentile, in the FIRST EPSS model of 2 Oct 2026. It estimates the probability of exploitation activity in the following 30 days. For a CVE already in KEV the score is secondary: exploitation has been observed.

How severe is CVE-2026-81963?

microsoft.com rates it 7.8 HIGH (CVSS 3.1). These are the published assessments as of 3 Oct 2026; this site does not rescore.

Which product does CVE-2026-81963 affect?

Microsoft Windows, as named in the CISA catalog. The affected versions listed in the CVE record are on this page; the vendor advisory in the references is the authority on fixed versions.

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