--- title: "CVE-2025-9491: Microsoft Windows LNK File UI… | CubePath" description: "Microsoft Windows LNK File UI Misrepresentation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code…" language: en source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-9491 --- # CVE-2025-9491: Microsoft Windows LNK File UI… | CubePath ## 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](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-9491) ## Key data ### CVSS 3.0 High 7.0 Score published by zdi in the CVE record. CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H | 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 Score published by CISA-ADP in the CVE record. 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 | 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 Score published by CISA-ADP in the CVE record. CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N | 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. | CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) . ### EPSS Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days. 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 Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA. Exploitation Public proof of concept recorded by CISA Automatable no Technical impact partial ### Weakness (CWE) CWE catalog version 5.0. CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license. - [CWE-451](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/451.html) User Interface (UI) Misrepresentation of Critical Information ## Affected products Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them. - Microsoft Windows - affected: 11 Enterprise 23H2 22631.4169 x64 ## References Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control. - [ZDI-25-148](https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-25-148/) (zerodayinitiative.com) ## Timeline 1. ID reserved Aug 26, 2025 2. Record published Aug 26, 2025 3. Record last updated Dec 5, 2025 ## Look up another CVE ## About CubePath CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection. [Cloud VPS](https://cubepath.com/vps) [DDoS protection](https://cubepath.com/ddos-protection) 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, 20:01 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)