# CVE-2026-22561: Anthropic Claude for Windows privilege escalation in installer

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-22561-anthropic-claude-for-windows-privilege-escalation-in-installer  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-03-31. Updated: 2026-07-24  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-22561 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-03-31

The installer for the Anthropic Claude desktop application on Windows is vulnerable to a security flaw that could allow a local attacker to gain elevated system permissions. By placing a malicious file in the same folder as the installer, an attacker can trick the setup process into running unauthorized code with administrative rights. This could lead to a full compromise of the affected computer, including unauthorized data access or persistent malware installation.

Technologies: [Anthropic Claude Desktop](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/claude-desktop), [Microsoft Windows](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows). Vendors: [Anthropic](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/anthropic), [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-22561 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-22561 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-22561?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 31 March 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Anthropic Claude Desktop prior to 1.1.3363.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-22561?** A patch was published on 2026-03-31: Fixed in version 1.1.3363 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-22561 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-22561?** Check whether you run Anthropic Claude, Anthropic Claude Desktop or Microsoft Windows at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A DLL search-order hijacking vulnerability (CWE-427) exists in the Anthropic Claude for Windows installer (Claude Setup.exe) before version 1.1.3363. The installer attempts to load specific DLLs, such as profapi.dll, from its current working directory instead of secure system paths after User Account Control (UAC) elevation has occurred. A local attacker can exploit this by placing a malicious DLL with a matching name in the same directory as the installer. When a user runs the installer, the malicious code is executed with elevated privileges, leading to local privilege escalation (LPE). The issue is resolved in version 1.1.3363.

## Affected products

- Anthropic Claude Desktop - Windows prior to 1.1.3363

## Timeline

- 2026-03-31: disclosed
- 2026-03-31: advisory
- 2026-03-31: patched: Fixed in version 1.1.3363

## References

- [https://trust.anthropic.com/resources?s=1cvig6ldp3zvuj1yffzr11&name=cve-2026-22561-dll-search-order-hijacking-in-claude-for-windows-installer](https://trust.anthropic.com/resources?s=1cvig6ldp3zvuj1yffzr11&name=cve-2026-22561-dll-search-order-hijacking-in-claude-for-windows-installer)

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