Relative Path Traversal in Windows PowerShell

Executive Summary

CVE-2026-40400 is a relative path traversal vulnerability in Windows PowerShell. This flaw allows an authorized attacker to execute arbitrary code over a network by exploiting improper handling of file paths.

The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution (RCE) issue, meaning an attacker could run malicious code on a target system without direct physical access.

• The attacker must be authorized (have certain privileges) to exploit this vulnerability.
• The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.0, indicating a high severity level.

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Detection Guidance

The provided context does not include specific detection methods or commands for identifying the relative path traversal vulnerability in Windows PowerShell (CVE-2026-40400). Detection may require monitoring PowerShell execution logs, network traffic, or using security tools to identify unusual path traversal patterns.

For general detection of suspicious PowerShell activity, you can check event logs using commands like:

• Get-WinEvent -LogName 'Windows PowerShell' | Where-Object { $_.Message -like '*..*' } to search for path traversal patterns in logs.
• Review network traffic for unexpected PowerShell remote execution attempts using tools like Windows Event Forwarding or SIEM solutions.

For precise detection, refer to Microsoft's official guidance or security advisories.

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Impact Analysis

If exploited, this vulnerability could have severe consequences for affected systems and users.

• An attacker could execute arbitrary code on your system, potentially gaining full control over it.
• This could lead to data theft, unauthorized access to sensitive information, or installation of malware.
• Since the attack can be carried out over a network, the attacker does not need physical access to the target machine.

However, the attacker must already have some level of authorization on the system to exploit this vulnerability.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability allows remote code execution via path traversal in PowerShell, which could lead to unauthorized access or data breaches. Such breaches may violate GDPR (data protection) or HIPAA (health data privacy) if sensitive information is exposed.

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Mitigation Strategies

The provided context does not include specific mitigation steps for CVE-2026-40400. However, general immediate steps to mitigate relative path traversal vulnerabilities in Windows PowerShell may include:

• Apply the latest security updates from Microsoft as soon as they are available. Check the Microsoft Update Guide for patches related to this CVE.
• Restrict PowerShell execution policies to 'Restricted' or 'AllSigned' mode to limit unauthorized script execution.
• Monitor and audit PowerShell usage, especially for remote execution or scripts containing path traversal patterns (e.g., '..').
• Disable or restrict remote PowerShell access if not required for business operations.
• Use application control solutions like Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) to block unauthorized PowerShell scripts.

For official mitigation steps, refer to Microsoft's security advisory for CVE-2026-40400.

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