CVE-2025-9491 HIGH

CVE-2025-9491: Microsoft Windows LNK File UI Misrepresentation Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Vendor Microsoft
Product Windows
Weakness CWE-451
Published August 26, 2025
Last update December 5, 2025
View on NVD All CVEs

CVSS base score

7.0/10
Attack vector Local
Attack complexity High
Privileges required None
User interaction Required
Confidentiality High
Integrity High

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

What the vulnerability does

01Description

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.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

August 26, 2025 CVE published
December 5, 2025 Record updated