CVE-2026-81572 HIGH

CVE-2026-81572: Local Privilege Escalation in CodeMeter Runtime on Windows

Vendor Wibu-Systems-Ag
Product codemeter-runtime
Weakness CWE-59
Published August 27, 2026
Last update August 28, 2026

CVSS base score

7.8/10
Attack vector Local
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required Low
User interaction None
Confidentiality High
Integrity High

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

What the vulnerability does

01Description

In CodeMeter Runtime from version 8.40 to (excluding) 8.41a and 9.00 to (excluding) 9.10, cmu.exe --create-io --file C: creates a predictable temporary file under C:\CM-Stick. The directory and file paths are not properly checked for NTFS reparse points, such as junctions or symbolic links, before file operations are performed. A local attacker can create a junction at the temporary file that points to an arbitrary system path. Because CodeMeter Runtime runs with System privileges, this could allow arbitrary files to be deleted with System privileges and potentially enable local privilege escalation.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

August 27, 2026 CVE published
August 28, 2026 Record updated