Description

Improper neutralization of special elements used in a command ('command injection') in Microsoft PowerShell allows an authorized attacker to execute code locally.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "7.8",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-14T21:17:18.920Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-14T21:17:18.920Z",
  "executiveSummary": "An improper neutralization of special elements used in a command vulnerability, classified as command injection, exists within Microsoft PowerShell. The vulnerability allows an authorized attacker to achieve local code execution on target systems.\nThe flaw impacts Microsoft PowerShell across unspecified versions where command parsing or neutralization fails to adequately sanitize special characters provided to the interpreter. Successful exploitation enables threat actors to execute arbitrary commands within the context of the local user, bypassing intended security boundaries.\nThe risk implications are significant for environments relying on local script execution and automation pipelines, as compromised execution contexts can lead to privilege escalation or lateral movement if higher-privileged sessions are leveraged.\nExploitation requirements dictate that the attacker must already possess local access or authorization to interact with the vulnerable PowerShell environment. The attack capabilities are bound by the privilege level of the executing user account, requiring local execution vectors to deliver and trigger the maliciously crafted command payloads.",
  "technicalDetails": "The root cause of the vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in a command within Microsoft PowerShell. When input containing control characters or shell metacharacters is processed by the PowerShell parsing engine without rigorous sanitization or parameterization, the underlying command interpreter misinterprets data as executable instructions.\nThe vulnerable component resides within the command evaluation and execution pipeline of Microsoft PowerShell. Specifically, flaws in how the engine handles special input sequences allow the injection of unintended syntax into the command stream.\nRegarding authentication and privilege requirements, the attacker must be authorized and authenticated locally to interact with the target environment. Network exposure is localized, as the vulnerability requires local access vectors for successful exploitation, precluding remote exploitation unless chained with a separate remote code execution vector.\nThe step-by-step attack flow proceeds as follows: First, the attacker crafts a malicious input string containing specially crafted command injection payloads designed to break out of the intended argument context. Second, the attacker supplies this input to the vulnerable Microsoft PowerShell interface or execution mechanism. Third, the PowerShell engine fails to neutralize the special elements during parsing and constructs a command string that incorporates the injected instructions. Finally, the operating system executes the resulting concatenated command stream, leading to arbitrary local code execution under the security context of the user running the process.\nThe payload behavior involves executing unauthorized commands, scripts, or binaries locally on the host system. The post-exploitation impact includes unauthorized data access, system modification, persistence establishment, and potential lateral movement depending on the privileges assigned to the affected PowerShell session."
}