CVE-2026-50469

Windows Projected File System Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Published Jul 14, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed

Description

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Projected File System allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Analysis

Technical impact

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Projected File System allows an authorized attacker with user‑level access to elevate privileges locally; the weakness is a classic CWE‑59 link following flaw.

Affected Systems

Microsoft Windows 10 versions 1809, 21H2, 22H2; Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, 26H1; Windows Server 2019, 2022 and 2025, including Server Core installations.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 7.8 indicates a moderate severity vulnerability with local impact. The EPSS score of less than 1% shows a low probability of exploitation in the wild, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The likely attack vector is local, requiring the attacker to be authorized on the affected system.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

Microsoft

Windows 10 Version 1809

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.17763.0`	affected	< 10.0.17763.9020

Microsoft

Windows 10 Version 21H2

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.19044.0`	affected	< 10.0.19044.7548

Microsoft

Windows 10 Version 22H2

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.19045.0`	affected	< 10.0.19045.7548

Microsoft

Windows 11 Version 24H2

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.26100.0`	affected	< 10.0.26100.8875

Microsoft

Windows 11 Version 25H2

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.26200.0`	affected	< 10.0.26200.8875

Microsoft

Windows 11 version 26H1

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.28000.0`	affected	< 10.0.28000.2525

Microsoft

Windows Server 2019

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.17763.0`	affected	< 10.0.17763.9020

Microsoft

Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.17763.0`	affected	< 10.0.17763.9020

Microsoft

Windows Server 2022

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.20348.0`	affected	< 10.0.20348.5386

Microsoft

Windows Server 2025

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.26100.0`	affected	< 10.0.26100.33158

Microsoft

Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.26100.0`	affected	< 10.0.26100.33158

Configuration 1 [-]

OR	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:::::::x86:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:::::::arm64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:::::::x86:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:::::::arm64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:::::::x86:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:::::::arm64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:::::::arm64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:::::::arm64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019::::::::
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022::::::::
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025::::::::

No data.

Vendor Product Versions

Microsoft

Windows 10 1809

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.17763.0,10.0.17763.9020)`	affected	generic	['32-bit_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows 10 21h2

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.19044.0,10.0.19044.7548)`	affected	generic	['32-bit_systems', 'arm64-based_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows 10 22h2

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.19045.0,10.0.19045.7548)`	affected	generic	['32-bit_systems', 'arm64-based_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows 11 24h2

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.26100.0,10.0.26100.8875)`	affected	generic	['arm64-based_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows 11 25h2

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.26200.0,10.0.26200.8875)`	affected	generic	['arm64-based_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows 11 26h1

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.28000.0,10.0.28000.2525)`	affected	generic	['arm64-based_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2019

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.17763.0,10.0.17763.9020)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation)

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.17763.0,10.0.17763.9020)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2022

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.20348.0,10.0.20348.5386)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2025

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.26100.0,10.0.26100.33158)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.26100.0,10.0.26100.33158)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

Apply the official Microsoft security update for the affected Windows builds via the Microsoft Security Response Center.
Reboot the system after the update to ensure the patch is fully applied.
If the patch is not yet available, limit user access to the Windows Projected File System or follow Microsoft guidance to disable link following features until the fix is deployed.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on July 31, 2026 at 07:59 UTC.

Tracking

Advisories

No advisories available

Metrics

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.

Exploit prediction score: < 1% (0.370% probability within 30 days)

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

References

Link	Providers
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-50469

History

Nov 11, 2026 12:30 AM First appearance in the feed. Affected vendors updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
First Time appeared		Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation) Microsoft windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)
Vendors & Products		Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation) Microsoft windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)

Jul 15, 2026 11:30 AM Scoring metrics updated View changes

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

Jul 14, 2026 5:45 PM Description updated. Title updated. First appearance in the feed. Weaknesses updated. Affected versions updated. Affected vendors updated. Added references. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description		Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Projected File System allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Title		Windows Projected File System Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
First Time appeared		Microsoft Microsoft windows 10 1809 Microsoft windows 10 21h2 Microsoft windows 10 22h2 Microsoft windows 11 24h2 Microsoft windows 11 25h2 Microsoft windows 11 26h1 Microsoft windows Server 2019 Microsoft windows Server 2022 Microsoft windows Server 2025
Weaknesses		CWE-59
CPEs		cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:::::::x86:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21H2:::::::x86:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22H2:::::::x64:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24H2:::::::arm64:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25H2:::::::arm64:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26H1:::::::x64:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:::::::: cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022:::::::: cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025::::::::
Vendors & Products		Microsoft Microsoft windows 10 1809 Microsoft windows 10 21h2 Microsoft windows 10 22h2 Microsoft windows 11 24h2 Microsoft windows 11 25h2 Microsoft windows 11 26h1 Microsoft windows Server 2019 Microsoft windows Server 2022 Microsoft windows Server 2025
References		https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-50469
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'}`

Subscriptions

Microsoft Windows 10 1809 Windows 10 21h2 Windows 10 21h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 26h1 Windows 11 26h1 Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2022 Windows Server 2025 Windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)

Weaknesses