---
id: "CVE-2026-105520"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-105520"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-105520"]
title: "Windows DNS: link following lets an authorized user gain privileges"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.2
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Windows DNS", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["infrastructure", "self-hosted", "windows", "windows-dns"]
not_affected_if: ["no-dns-server-role"]
published_at: "2026-11-10T19:17:51+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-10T19:24:17+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-10T19:47:57+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-105520", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:24:17+00:00"}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Windows DNS: link following lets an authorized user gain privileges

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-105520 (this .md is for agents)

Windows DNS resolves a symbolic or hard link before accessing a file, so a user with some access can be tricked into reading or writing a file they should not reach. An attacker with valid credentials on the network can elevate their privileges.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Windows DNS affected range not listed fixed no fixed version listed

## How to check

- Confirm the Windows DNS Server role is installed on the host (`Get-WindowsFeature DNS` in PowerShell).
- Check the build with `winver` and compare it with the fixed build in Microsoft's advisory for CVE-2026-105520.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10T19:24:17+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-105520

## From the sources

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows DNS allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.

---

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