SB2026011398 - Privilege escalation in Microsoft Host Process for Windows Tasks
Published: January 13, 2026
Security Bulletin ID
SB2026011398
Severity
Low
Patch available
YES
Number of vulnerabilities
1
Exploitation vector
Local access
Highest impact
Code execution
Breakdown by Severity
- Low
- Medium
- High
- Critical
Description
This security bulletin contains information about 1 security vulnerability.
1) Link following (CVE-ID: CVE-2026-20941)
The vulnerability allows a local user to escalate privileges on the system.
The vulnerability exists due to an insecure link following issue in Host Process for Windows Tasks. A local user can create a specially crafted symbolic link to a critical file on the system and overwrite it with privileges of the application.
Remediation
Install update from vendor's website.