What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-23665?

CVE-2026-23665 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (High). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.0%.

How to fix or mitigate CVE-2026-23665?

Within 24 hours: Inventory all Azure Linux VMs and identify which are exposed; disable non-essential local user accounts and review IAM access logs for suspicious activity. Within 7 days: Implement network segmentation to restrict lateral movement from compromised VMs; enable Azure Security Center monitoring and alerts for privilege escalation attempts. Within 30 days: Monitor Microsoft's patch roadmap closely; in parallel, evaluate migration of critical workloads to patched versions or alternative platforms; conduct security assessment of all affected systems.

Linux Diagnostic Extension CVE-2026-23665

HIGH

Heap-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-122)

2026-03-10 secure@microsoft.com

Buffer Overflow Heap Overflow Microsoft Linux Diagnostic Extension

7.8

CVSS 3.1 · NVD

View

Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

Access

Gain local access to Azure Linux VM
Exploit

Trigger heap-based buffer overflow in vulnerable component
Execution

Overwrite heap memory to escalate privileges
Impact

Execute code with elevated permissions

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-122 OWASP Top 10:2025 A06:2021 - Vulnerable and Outdated Components ASVS 5.0 V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Heap buffer bounds checking MITRE ATT&CK 1 technique across 1 tactic: Execution The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. Sign in to read
Exploitation Conditions	Attacker must have local user account access on Azure Linux Virtual Machine. Vulnerable memory management function must be accessible to authenticated local users. Standard Azure VM configurations with default memory protections are affected.
Impact	CVSS 7.8 (HIGH). Attack vector: Local. Complexity: Low. Privileges required: Low. User interaction: None. Exploitable via local access.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to compromise the affected system.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).

Patch available 0.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026

Privilege escalation in Azure Linux Virtual Machines results from a heap-based buffer overflow that authenticated local users can exploit to gain elevated system access. An attacker with valid credentials can trigger memory corruption to bypass privilege restrictions and assume administrative control of the affected virtual machine. No patch is currently available, making this a critical risk for organizations running Azure Linux infrastructure.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)

v1 Mar 12, 2026 - 21:55 CVSS 7.8

Heap-based buffer overflow in Azure Linux Virtual Machines allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. [CVSS 7.8 HIGH]

RemediationAI

Monitor vendor advisories for a patch. Enable ASLR, DEP/NX, and stack canaries where possible.

Affected Packages

microsoft azure_linux_virtual_machines_with_azure_diagnostics_extension_2_1_24 fix: Azure Linux Virtual Machines with Azure Diagnostics extension 2.1.24

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in microsoft

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Classified as CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow). Heap-based buffer overflow in Azure Linux Virtual Machines allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH

AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

DescriptionCVE.org

Heap-based buffer overflow in Azure Linux Virtual Machines allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Azure Linux Virtual Machines allows authorized users to escalate privileges locally, potentially granting attackers administrative access to affected systems. This poses a significant risk to organizations running Linux workloads in Azure, as compromised VMs could be leveraged to access sensitive data or pivot to other infrastructure components.

Business Impact: High

Compensating Controls

Implement strict least-privilege access controls and regularly audit IAM permissions; enable Azure VM guest attestation and security baselines; use Azure Policy to enforce disk encryption and host-based firewalls; deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions on affected VMs; restrict SSH/RDP access via network security groups and bastion hosts; disable unnecessary services and kernel modules; enable audit logging for privilege escalation attempts.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

0.0%

Top 86% exploitable

Data Quality

4 sources

Confidence: Medium

NVD

CVE.org

EPSS

VulDB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue

Severity HIGH

CISA KEV No

Public POC No

EPSS 0.0%

Patch available Yes

Active threat No

Deciding rule

HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Scheduled

Exploitation· derived

None

System Exposure· derived

Small

Automatable· derived

Human Impact

High

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: 0

CVSS: +39

PoC: 0

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: 0

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Buffer Overflow HIGH

A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.

Heap Overflow HIGH

A heap overflow occurs when a program writes data beyond the bounds of a buffer allocated in the heap memory region.