Vulnerability
CVE-2026-41091
Microsoft Defender and Malware Protection Engine: privilege escalation
Most severe levelDEFCON 3 · Substantial risk
Official data
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 · high
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-59
- EPSS
- 8.2% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 94% of CVEs
- CISA KEV catalogue
- Yes, since 20 May 2026
Sources: NVD (CVSS, weakness, publication), FIRST (EPSS), CISA (KEV catalogue).
Data read on 25 October 2026.
Timeline
- 20 May 2026Published on NVD
- 20 May 2026Added to the CISA KEV catalogue
- 21 May 2026First in the DefenceLevel briefing
In DefenceLevel briefings3 days
- 23 May 2026Still ongoingDEFCON 4
- 22 May 2026Still ongoingDEFCON 4
- 21 May 2026New in the last 24 hoursDEFCON 3
Last 12 months.
The full analysis is in the briefingThe full analysis is in your archive
Why it matters now, who is affected and what to do: every day at 05:00 UTC, for subscribers.Why it matters, who is affected and what to do, as in the daily briefing.
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