---
id: "CVE-2026-122174"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-122174"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-122174"]
title: "Windows Task Scheduler: link following lets a local user gain elevated privileges"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.0
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Windows Task Scheduler", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 10 1607 / Server 2016", "fixed": ["10.0.14393.9688"], "affected": "< 10.0.14393.9688", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 10 1809 / Server 2019", "fixed": ["10.0.17763.9487"], "affected": "< 10.0.17763.9487", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 10 21H2", "fixed": ["10.0.19044.7846"], "affected": "< 10.0.19044.7846", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 10 22H2", "fixed": ["10.0.19045.7846"], "affected": "< 10.0.19045.7846", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 23H2", "fixed": ["10.0.22631.7711"], "affected": "< 10.0.22631.7711", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 24H2 / Server 2025 (24H2 line)", "fixed": ["10.0.26100.9974", "10.0.26100.33822"], "affected": "Win11 < 10.0.26100.9974; Server 2025 < 10.0.26100.33822", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 25H2", "fixed": ["10.0.26200.9974"], "affected": "< 10.0.26200.9974", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 26H1", "fixed": ["10.0.28000.3501"], "affected": "< 10.0.28000.3501", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 26H2", "fixed": ["10.0.26300.9974"], "affected": "< 10.0.26300.9974", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2022", "fixed": ["10.0.20348.5870"], "affected": "< 10.0.20348.5870", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["infrastructure", "local-privilege-escalation", "task-scheduler", "windows", "windows-server"]
not_affected_if: ["no-local-untrusted-users", "patched-november-2026"]
published_at: "2026-11-10T19:20:35+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-10T19:25:10+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-10T21:40:01+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-122174", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:25:10+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-122174", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T21:40:01+00:00", "cites": ["https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-122174", "https://app.opencve.io/cve/CVE-2026-122174"]}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Windows Task Scheduler: link following lets a local user gain elevated privileges

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-122174 (this .md is for agents)

Windows Task Scheduler resolves a symbolic or file link before accessing a file, so a logged-in attacker can redirect that access. The sources say an authorized local attacker can use this to elevate privileges.

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

## Affected

- vendor:Windows Task Scheduler affected range not listed fixed no fixed version listed
- vendor:Windows 10 1607 / Server 2016 affected < 10.0.14393.9688 fixed 10.0.14393.9688
- vendor:Windows 10 1809 / Server 2019 affected < 10.0.17763.9487 fixed 10.0.17763.9487
- vendor:Windows 10 21H2 affected < 10.0.19044.7846 fixed 10.0.19044.7846
- vendor:Windows 10 22H2 affected < 10.0.19045.7846 fixed 10.0.19045.7846
- vendor:Windows 11 23H2 affected < 10.0.22631.7711 fixed 10.0.22631.7711
- vendor:Windows 11 24H2 / Server 2025 (24H2 line) affected Win11 < 10.0.26100.9974; Server 2025 < 10.0.26100.33822 fixed 10.0.26100.9974, 10.0.26100.33822
- vendor:Windows 11 25H2 affected < 10.0.26200.9974 fixed 10.0.26200.9974
- vendor:Windows 11 26H1 affected < 10.0.28000.3501 fixed 10.0.28000.3501
- vendor:Windows 11 26H2 affected < 10.0.26300.9974 fixed 10.0.26300.9974
- vendor:Windows Server 2022 affected < 10.0.20348.5870 fixed 10.0.20348.5870

## How to check

Run winver or PowerShell [System.Environment]::OSVersion / (Get-ComputerInfo).OsBuildNumber and compare the full build (e.g. 10.0.26100.x) with the fixed builds in the fix field; a build below the fixed one is exposed.

## Fix

Install the 10 Nov 2026 Windows cumulative update. Fixed builds per the CVE record: Win10 1607 / Server 2016 10.0.14393.9688; Win10 1809 / Server 2019 10.0.17763.9487; Win10 21H2 10.0.19044.7846; Win10 22H2 10.0.19045.7846; Win11 23H2 10.0.22631.7711; Win11 24H2 10.0.26100.9974; Win11 25H2 10.0.26200.9974; Win11 26H1 10.0.28000.3501; Win11 26H2 10.0.26300.9974; Server 2022 10.0.20348.5870; Server 2025 10.0.26100.33822. KB5131080 (Server 2025), KB5131085 (Server 2019), KB5131087 (Win11 23H2) are listed by a third-party aggregator; confirm KBs on the MSRC page.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10T19:25:10+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-122174
- 2026-11-10T21:40:01+00:00 analyst https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-122174 — MSRC page not readable via tools; versions taken from Microsoft CNA data in the CVE record (NVD/OpenCVE), not the MSRC page, so nothing marked verified. KBs seen only on a third-party aggregator. No exploitation or PoC found.

## Documents

- [describes] NVD CVE-2026-122174 (Microsoft CNA data) https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-122174
- [mentions] OpenCVE CVE-2026-122174 (CVE record version ranges) https://app.opencve.io/cve/CVE-2026-122174

## From the sources

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows Task Scheduler allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

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