CVE-2025-9491Known exploitationPublic exploit

Code execution via whitespace-hidden LNK target arguments

Published Aug 26, 2025 · Updated Dec 5, 2025

UI misrepresentation in Microsoft Windows 11 23H2 build 22631.4169 allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted LNK file. The Properties dialog truncates the Target field after attacker-controlled whitespace, hiding execution-relevant arguments from inspection. Exploitation requires a user to open the shortcut, and the hidden command runs with that user's permissions.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability68.86%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

UI misrepresentation in Microsoft Windows 11 23H2 build 22631.4169 allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted LNK file. The Properties dialog truncates the Target field after attacker-controlled whitespace, hiding execution-relevant arguments from inspection. Exploitation requires a user to open the shortcut, and the hidden command runs with that user's permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-9491
Published
Aug 26, 2025
Updated
Dec 5, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows
Classifications
CWE-451, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 26, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 5, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=11 Enterprise 23H2 22631.4169 x64

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windowsversion=11 Enterprise 23H2 22631.4169 x64

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
3.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
4.6CISA-ADPCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.0Trend Micro Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-451User Interface (UI) Misrepresentation of Critical Information
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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