Local privilege escalation via untrusted search path
Published Aug 11, 2026 · Updated Aug 25, 2026
Untrusted search path in Windows Narrator Braille in Microsoft Windows allows local users to gain elevated privileges via file planting. Microsoft and NVD identify the flaw as CWE-426, but the public advisory does not disclose the executable, library, or directory involved in the unsafe lookup. Exploitation requires local access with low privileges and no user interaction, and a successful search-path hijack can run attacker-controlled code in a more privileged context.
Summary
What happened
Untrusted search path in Windows Narrator Braille in Microsoft Windows allows local users to gain elevated privileges via file planting. Microsoft and NVD identify the flaw as CWE-426, but the public advisory does not disclose the executable, library, or directory involved in the unsafe lookup. Exploitation requires local access with low privileges and no user interaction, and a successful search-path hijack can run attacker-controlled code in a more privileged context.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-56174
- Published
- Aug 11, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 25, 2026
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-426, T1574
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 25, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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