Local code execution via untrusted search path
Published Mar 10, 2026 · Updated Mar 10, 2026
Untrusted search path handling in Microsoft Windows GDI allows local users to execute arbitrary code after user interaction. Microsoft identifies GDI as the vulnerable component but has not disclosed which file-loading operation, search order, or attacker-controlled location causes the unsafe lookup. Exploitation requires no prior privileges, but a user or user-initiated process must participate; successful execution can compromise the affected Windows system.
Summary
What happened
Untrusted search path handling in Microsoft Windows GDI allows local users to execute arbitrary code after user interaction. Microsoft identifies GDI as the vulnerable component but has not disclosed which file-loading operation, search order, or attacker-controlled location causes the unsafe lookup. Exploitation requires no prior privileges, but a user or user-initiated process must participate; successful execution can compromise the affected Windows system.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-25190
- Published
- Mar 10, 2026
- Updated
- Mar 10, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows Server 2019
- Classifications
- CWE-426, T1574.008
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 10, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 10, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.8511
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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