Quick answers
- Is CVE-2026-69289 exploited in the wild?
- No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-69289 being exploited in the wild.
- How severe is CVE-2026-69289?
- High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 8 September 2026.
- Which products and versions are affected?
- Microsoft Windows Setup Files Cleanup <UNKNOWN>.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-69289?
- No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.
- How is CVE-2026-69289 attacked?
- It is attacked with local access.
- Am I affected by CVE-2026-69289?
- Check whether you run Microsoft Windows Setup Files Cleanup 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
The vulnerability is a symlink/link-following flaw (CWE-59) in Windows Setup Files Cleanup. An attacker with local access and authorization can craft malicious symbolic links that the cleanup utility follows during file operations, allowing arbitrary file write or code execution with elevated privileges. The attack requires local access and prior authorization on the system. Microsoft has released a security patch to address the improper link resolution before file access.
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows Setup Files Cleanup <UNKNOWN>
Timeline
- 2026-09-08: disclosed
- 2026-09-08: advisory