Description
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in .NET allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Published: 2026-10-13
Score: 7.8 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Local Privilege Escalation
Action: Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

The vulnerability is an improper link resolution before file access (link following) in the .NET runtime, which allows an authorized local attacker to elevate their privileges. This flaw arises from the runtime resolving a symbolic link to a file that the process does not have permissions to read, then performing file operations on that target file without additional checks. The weakness is identified by CWE-59.

Affected Systems

Affected products include Microsoft .NET 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, and 11.0, as well as Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.14 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2026 version 18.10. The affected versions are those listed in the CNA data; no broader version range is specified, so administrators should verify that the installed runtime or IDE matches one of these products.

Risk and Exploitability

The vulnerability is scored 7.8 on the CVSS scale and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. EPSS score is not available. Attackers would need local user privileges to create or point a symbolic link that targets a protected file or directory; they could then exploit the link resolution flaw to access or modify data with higher privileges than originally granted. The risk is moderate to high for systems where symbolic link creation or usage is not already restricted.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 14, 2026 at 10:45 UTC.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Install the Microsoft security update that addresses improper link resolution in .NET 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, and 11.0 runtimes.
  • Apply the latest updates for Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.14 and Visual Studio 2026 version 18.10 to ensure that the updated .NET runtime is in use.
  • Restrict local users from creating or following symbolic links that reference files outside their authorized directories by enforcing appropriate file system permissions or using access control lists.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 14, 2026 at 10:45 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-2j93-m82w-73j2 Microsoft Security Advisory CVE-2026-96231 - .NET and Visual Studio Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
History

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

 threat_severity

Important

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 19:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in .NET allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Title .NET Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
First Time appeared Microsoft
Microsoft .net
Microsoft microsoft Visual Studio 2026 Version 18.10
Microsoft visual Studio 2022
Weaknesses CWE-59
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:.net:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:microsoft_visual_studio_2026_version_18.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Microsoft
Microsoft .net
Microsoft microsoft Visual Studio 2026 Version 18.10
Microsoft visual Studio 2022
References
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 .net Microsoft Visual Studio 2026 Version 18.10 Visual Studio 2022
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: microsoft

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-31T18:11:03.671Z

Reserved: 2026-09-22T19:05:22.813Z

Link: CVE-2026-96231

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-10-13T19:46:48.434Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-10-13T19:21:48.843

Modified: 2026-10-22T22:19:55.937

Link: CVE-2026-96231

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-10-13T17:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-96231 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-14T10:45:14Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-59

    Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')