Jan 2026: Host Process for Windows Tasks Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
CVE-2026-20941 Published on January 13, 2026
Host Process for Windows Tasks Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Host Process for Windows Tasks allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Weakness Type
What is an insecure temporary file Vulnerability?
The software attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.
CVE-2026-20941 has been classified to as an insecure temporary file vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-20941
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Affected Versions
Microsoft Windows 11 Version 24H2:- Version 10.0.26100.0 and below 10.0.26100.7623 is affected.
- Version 10.0.26200.0 and below 10.0.26200.7623 is affected.
- Version 10.0.26100.0 and below 10.0.26100.32230 is affected.
- Version 10.0.26100.0 and below 10.0.26100.32230 is affected.
Exploit Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.