CVE-2025-9491
Microsoft Windows LNK File UI Misrepresentation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Description
Microsoft Windows LNK File UI Misrepresentation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Microsoft Windows. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the handling of .LNK files. Crafted data in an .LNK file can cause hazardous content in the file to be invisible to a user who inspects the file via the Windows-provided user interface. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current user. Was ZDI-CAN-25373.
Official description from the CVE record, published by zdi. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See /security/cve/legal for the CVE license. View the record on cve.org
Key data
CVSS 3.0 High 7.0
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector: Local
The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity: High
The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation.
Privileges required: None
No account or privileges are needed.
User interaction: Required
A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link.
Scope: Unchanged
The impact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality impact: High
Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact: High
Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact: High
Serious or total effect on availability.
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector | Local | The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something. |
| Attack complexity | High | The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation. |
| Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. |
| User interaction | Required | A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link. |
| Scope | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component. |
| Confidentiality impact | High | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data. |
| Integrity impact | High | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data. |
| Availability impact | High | Serious or total effect on availability. |
CVSS 4.0 Medium 4.6
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Attack vector: Local
The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity: Low
No measurable action is needed to get around the system's built-in security controls. The attack is repeatable.
Attack requirements: None
The attack works without any special deployment or execution conditions.
Privileges required: None
No account or privileges are needed.
User interaction: Active
A user has to act on purpose, such as running a file or accepting a prompt.
Vulnerable system: confidentiality: None
No effect on the secrecy of data.
Vulnerable system: integrity: Low
Limited effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Vulnerable system: availability: None
No effect on availability.
Subsequent systems: confidentiality: None
No effect on other systems' data secrecy.
Subsequent systems: integrity: None
No effect on other systems' data trustworthiness.
Subsequent systems: availability: None
No effect on other systems' availability.
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector | Local | The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something. |
| Attack complexity | Low | No measurable action is needed to get around the system's built-in security controls. The attack is repeatable. |
| Attack requirements | None | The attack works without any special deployment or execution conditions. |
| Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. |
| User interaction | Active | A user has to act on purpose, such as running a file or accepting a prompt. |
| Vulnerable system: confidentiality | None | No effect on the secrecy of data. |
| Vulnerable system: integrity | Low | Limited effect on the trustworthiness of data. |
| Vulnerable system: availability | None | No effect on availability. |
| Subsequent systems: confidentiality | None | No effect on other systems' data secrecy. |
| Subsequent systems: integrity | None | No effect on other systems' data trustworthiness. |
| Subsequent systems: availability | None | No effect on other systems' availability. |
CVSS 3.1 Low 3.3
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
Attack vector: Local
The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity: Low
No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.
Privileges required: None
No account or privileges are needed.
User interaction: Required
A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link.
Scope: Unchanged
The impact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality impact: None
No effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact: Low
Limited effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact: None
No effect on availability.
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector | Local | The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something. |
| Attack complexity | Low | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will. |
| Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. |
| User interaction | Required | A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link. |
| Scope | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component. |
| Confidentiality impact | None | No effect on the secrecy of data. |
| Integrity impact | Low | Limited effect on the trustworthiness of data. |
| Availability impact | None | No effect on availability. |
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EPSS
- Score
- 0.75995 (76.0% probability)
- Percentile
- 99.5%
- Scores of
- Nov 10, 2026
- Model
- v2026.06.15
CISA assessment as of Dec 5, 2025
- Exploitation
- Public proof of concept recorded by CISA
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-451User Interface (UI) Misrepresentation of Critical Information
Affected products
Microsoft Windows
- affected: 11 Enterprise 23H2 22631.4169 x64
References
- ZDI-25-148 (zerodayinitiative.com)
Timeline
- ID reserved
- Record published
- Record last updated
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About CubePath
Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:49 UTC. Sources and licenses