Local Privilege Escalation in Anthropic Claude Windows Installer

CVE-2026-22561

What is CVE-2026-22561?

The Anthropic Claude Windows installer, specifically versions prior to 1.1.3363, is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation attack. This vulnerability arises from uncontrolled search path elements used by the installer, allowing for DLL search-order hijacking. When the installer elevates its privileges through User Account Control (UAC), it searches for dynamic link libraries (DLLs) in its own directory. If a malicious DLL is placed alongside the installer, it can be executed, leading to potential arbitrary code execution and further compromise of the system.

References