CVE-2026-40400: Windows PowerShell Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Overview

Severity
High (CVSS 8)
CVSS Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
Category
Remote Code Execution
Exploit Status
Not Exploited
Exploitation Likelihood
Unlikely
Patch Tuesday
2026-Jul
Released
2026-07-14

Description

Relative path traversal in Windows PowerShell allows an authorized attacker to execute code over a network.

FAQ

According to the CVSS metric, the attack vector is network (AV:N) and the user interaction is required (UI:R). What is the target context of the remote code execution? This attack requires an authenticated client to click a link so that an unauthenticated attacker can initiate remote code execution.

Affected Products (27)

Windows

  • Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2019
  • Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows Server 2022
  • Windows 10 Version 21H2 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows 11 Version 25H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 25H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2025
  • Windows 11 version 26H1 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 26H1 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2016
  • Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)

ESU

  • Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 22H2 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows Server 2012
  • Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows Server 2012 R2
  • Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)

Security Updates (9)

Acknowledgments

Quan Le from Unit 515 - OPSWAT, Saif Shaker, <a href="https://zpbrent.github.io/">Peng Zhou (zpbrent)</a>, <a href="https://x.com/theteatoast">Anindya Roy</a>, Rayhan Destian, <a href="https://rayhan.ch/">Rayhan Destian</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlievogt">Charlie Vogt</a>, Michael Monwuba with Microsoft, MinhNV5 with <a href="https://mbbank.com.vn/">MBBank</a>, PuH4ck3rX, <a href="https://puh4ck3rx.github.io/">PuH4ck3rX</a> with W&amp;M, <a href="https://www.ymsora.com/">YMsora</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jishnu.sudhakaran">Jishnu Sudhakaran</a>, Ky0toFu, Povcfe, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielr1123/">Daniel R</a>, Anonymous, <a href="https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/">TrendAI Zero Day Initiative</a>, <a href="https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/">TrendAI Zero Day Initiative</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlievogt">Charlie Vogt</a>

Revision History

  • 2026-07-14: Information published.