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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Obtain local system access
  2. Exploit
    Open malicious .wim or .xml file in System Image Manager
  3. Execution
    Trigger unsafe deserialization
  4. Impact
    Execute arbitrary code with user privileges

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
CWE-502
OWASP Top 10:2025
A08:2025 - Software or Data Integrity Failures
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Safe deserialization, type allowlists
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Initial Access

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

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Exploitation Conditions

Authorized local user account required. Attacker must convince user to open specially crafted Windows Imaging Format (.wim) or System Image Manager (.xml) project file containing malicious serialized objects.
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 0.6% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026

Local code execution in Windows System Image Manager (Windows 11 23h2, Windows Server 2019/2022) through unsafe deserialization of untrusted data. An authenticated local attacker can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. No patch is currently available.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
v1 Mar 12, 2026 - 21:55 CVSS 7.8

Deserialization of untrusted data in Windows System Image Manager allows an authorized attacker to execute code locally. [CVSS 7.8 HIGH]

RemediationAI

Monitor vendor advisories for a patch.

Affected Packages

microsoft windows_10_version_1607_10_0_14393_8957 fix: Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems 10.0.14393.8957, Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems 10.0.14393.8957
microsoft windows_10_version_1809_10_0_17763_8511 fix: Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems 10.0.17763.8511, Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems 10.0.17763.8511
microsoft windows_10_version_21h2_10_0_19044_7058 fix: Windows 10 Version 21H2 for 32-bit Systems 10.0.19044.7058, Windows 10 Version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems 10.0.19044.7058, Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems 10.0.19044.7058
microsoft windows_10_version_22h2_10_0_19045_7058 fix: Windows 10 Version 22H2 for 32-bit Systems 10.0.19045.7058, Windows 10 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems 10.0.19045.7058, Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems 10.0.19045.7058
microsoft windows_11_version_23h2_10_0_22631_6783 fix: Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems 10.0.22631.6783, Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems 10.0.22631.6783
microsoft windows_11_version_24h2_10_0_26100_8037 fix: Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems 10.0.26100.8037, Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems 10.0.26100.8037
microsoft windows_11_version_25h2_10_0_26200_8037 fix: Windows 11 Version 25H2 for ARM64-based Systems 10.0.26200.8037, Windows 11 Version 25H2 for x64-based Systems 10.0.26200.8037
microsoft windows_11_version_26h1_10_0_28000_1719 fix: Windows 11 Version 26H1 for ARM64-based Systems 10.0.28000.1719, Windows 11 version 26H1 for x64-based Systems 10.0.28000.1719
microsoft windows_server_2016_10_0_14393_8957 fix: Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.8957, Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.8957
microsoft windows_server_2019_10_0_17763_8511 fix: Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.8511, Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.8511
microsoft windows_server_2022_10_0_20348_4893 fix: Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.4893, Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation) 10.0.20348.4893
microsoft windows_server_2022_23h2_edition_10_0_25398_2207 fix: Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation) 10.0.25398.2207

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 12 packages in microsoft

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

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Technical ContextAI · show details

Classified as CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data). Deserialization of untrusted data in Windows System Image Manager allows an authorized attacker to execute code 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

Deserialization of untrusted data in Windows System Image Manager allows an authorized attacker to execute code locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Windows System Image Manager contains a critical code execution vulnerability that could allow authorized users to compromise systems through malicious file deserialization. Organizations using this tool for system imaging and deployment face potential lateral movement and data breach risks, particularly in environments managing multiple endpoints or sensitive infrastructure.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Disable Windows System Image Manager if not operationally required. Restrict tool access to trusted administrative accounts only and implement multi-factor authentication for those accounts. Segment imaging servers on isolated network zones with restricted outbound communications. Monitor process execution and file access patterns for suspicious activity. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized code execution. Review and validate all image files before deployment. Consider temporarily shifting imaging workflows to alternative tools until patch availability.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.6%
Top 31% 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 0.6%
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
No
Human Impact
High

Priority Score

40
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +39
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Insecure Deserialization CRITICAL

Insecure deserialization occurs when an application converts serialized data (a stream of bytes representing an object's state) back into a living object without proper validation.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
+ 2 more

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References

Advisories & patches
ADVISORY https://vuldb.com/?id.350008 REF https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-25166

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