diff --git a/pkg/cmd/release/download/download.go b/pkg/cmd/release/download/download.go
index 56e6ac72a..bb0df7243 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/release/download/download.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/release/download/download.go
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"regexp"
+	"runtime"
+	"slices"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/MakeNowJust/heredoc"
 	"github.com/cli/cli/v2/api"
@@ -174,6 +177,12 @@ func downloadRun(opts *DownloadOptions) error {
 			if len(opts.FilePatterns) > 0 && !matchAny(opts.FilePatterns, a.Name) {
 				continue
 			}
+			// Note that if we need to start checking for reserved filenames on
+			// more operating systems we should move to using a build constraints
+			// pattern rather than checking the operating system at runtime.
+			if runtime.GOOS == "windows" && isWindowsReservedFilename(a.Name) {
+				return fmt.Errorf("unable to download release due to asset with reserved filename %q", a.Name)
+			}
 			toDownload = append(toDownload, a)
 		}
 	}
@@ -391,3 +400,23 @@ func (w destinationWriter) Copy(name string, r io.Reader) (copyErr error) {
 	_, copyErr = io.Copy(f, r)
 	return
 }
+
+func isWindowsReservedFilename(filename string) bool {
+	// Windows terminals should prevent the creation of these files
+	// but that behavior is not enforced across terminals. Prevent
+	// the user from downloading files with these reserved names as
+	// they represent an exploit vector for bad actors.
+	// Reserved filenames defined at:
+	// https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/fileio/naming-a-file#win32-file-namespaces
+	reservedFilenames := []string{"CON", "PRN", "AUX", "NUL", "COM0",
+		"COM1", "COM2", "COM3", "COM4", "COM5",
+		"COM6", "COM7", "COM8", "COM9", "COM¹",
+		"COM²", "COM³", "LPT0", "LPT1", "LPT2",
+		"LPT3", "LPT4", "LPT5", "LPT6", "LPT7",
+		"LPT8", "LPT9", "LPT¹", "LPT²", "LPT³"}
+
+	// Normalize type case and remove file type extension from filename.
+	filename = strings.ToUpper(strings.Split(filename, ".")[0])
+
+	return slices.Contains(reservedFilenames, filename)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/release/download/download_test.go b/pkg/cmd/release/download/download_test.go
index 782056314..3c2abf32d 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/release/download/download_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/release/download/download_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/cli/cli/v2/internal/ghrepo"
@@ -553,6 +554,87 @@ func Test_downloadRun_cloberAndSkip(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func Test_downloadRun_windowsReservedFilename(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS != "windows" {
+		t.SkipNow()
+	}
+
+	tagName := "v1.2.3"
+
+	ios, _, _, _ := iostreams.Test()
+
+	reg := &httpmock.Registry{}
+	defer reg.Verify(t)
+
+	shared.StubFetchRelease(t, reg, "OWNER", "REPO", tagName, `{
+		"assets": [
+			{ "name": "valid-asset.zip", "size": 12,
+			  "url": "https://api.github.com/assets/1234" },
+			{ "name": "valid-asset-2.zip", "size": 34,
+			  "url": "https://api.github.com/assets/3456" },
+			{ "name": "CON.tgz", "size": 56,
+			  "url": "https://api.github.com/assets/5678" }
+		],
+		"tarball_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/OWNER/REPO/tarball/v1.2.3",
+		"zipball_url": "https://api.github.com/repos/OWNER/REPO/zipball/v1.2.3"
+	}`)
+
+	opts := &DownloadOptions{
+		IO: ios,
+		HttpClient: func() (*http.Client, error) {
+			return &http.Client{Transport: reg}, nil
+		},
+		BaseRepo: func() (ghrepo.Interface, error) {
+			return ghrepo.FromFullName("OWNER/REPO")
+		},
+		TagName: tagName,
+	}
+
+	err := downloadRun(opts)
+
+	assert.EqualError(t, err, `unable to download release due to asset with reserved filename "CON.tgz"`)
+}
+
+func TestIsWindowsReservedFilename(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		filename string
+		want     bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:     "non-reserved filename",
+			filename: "test",
+			want:     false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "non-reserved filename with file type extension",
+			filename: "test.tar.gz",
+			want:     false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "reserved filename",
+			filename: "NUL",
+			want:     true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "reserved filename with file type extension",
+			filename: "NUL.tar.gz",
+			want:     true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "reserved filename with mixed type case",
+			filename: "NuL",
+			want:     true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.want, isWindowsReservedFilename(tt.filename))
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func listFiles(dir string) ([]string, error) {
 	var files []string
 	err := filepath.Walk(dir, func(p string, f os.FileInfo, err error) error {