Windows LNK Vulnerability: Microsoft’s Silent “Mitigation” Fails to Impress
Microsoft has “mitigated” a Windows LNK vulnerability by allowing users to see more than 260 characters in the Target field. While this isn’t a perfect fix, it does mean users can now spot malicious commands, provided they have superhuman attention spans and a magnifying glass handy. CVE-2025-9491 just got a little less sneaky!
Hot Take:
There’s nothing like a quiet patch to address a loud problem. Microsoft’s silent treatment to this LNK vulnerability is like whispering in a rock concert—it’s there, but is anyone really listening? Until the patch party gets into full swing, it’s up to us to dodge those dangerous LNK files and avoid clicking them like they’re “Reply All” on a company-wide email!
Key Points:
– CVE-2025-9491 is a high-severity vulnerability involving Windows LNK files, exploited by state-backed groups and cybercriminals.
– The flaw allows hidden malicious commands in LNK files, requiring user interaction to execute.
– Microsoft’s recent updates subtly alter LNK file handling but stop short of a full patch.
– ACROS Security released an unofficial patch targeting this vulnerability, offering early protection.
– The vulnerability has been exploited by groups like Mustang Panda to target European diplomats with malware.