Windows
CVE-2026-25171
HIGH
Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
-
AccessGain local user access
-
ExploitTrigger use-after-free in Windows Authentication Methods
-
ExecutionDereference freed memory
-
ImpactExecute code with elevated privileges
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2021 - Vulnerable and Outdated Components
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Memory lifecycle management
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Local user account required. Exploitation requires specific race condition timing during Windows Authentication Methods processing. High complexity due to AC:H rating necessitates precise memory state manipulation. |
| Impact | CVSS 7.0 (HIGH). Attack vector: Local. Complexity: High. Privileges required: Low. User interaction: None. Exploitable via local access. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to compromise the affected system. |
Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.
Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026
Privilege escalation in Windows Authentication Methods (Windows 10 22H2, Windows 11 26H1) stems from a use-after-free memory vulnerability that allows authenticated local attackers to gain elevated system privileges. The flaw requires low user privileges and manual interaction but provides complete system compromise through code execution. No patch is currently available for this high-severity vulnerability.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
Use after free in Windows Authentication Methods allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. [CVSS 7.0 HIGH]
RemediationAI
Monitor vendor advisories for a patch.
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 15 packages 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-416 (Use After Free). Use after free in Windows Authentication Methods allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Know when Windows gets its next vulnerability
- Watch products and get an email when something new is published
- Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
No credit card · 7-day full trial
Severity by source
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionCVE.org
Use after free in Windows Authentication Methods allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Executive ViewAI
CVE-2026-25171 is a privilege escalation vulnerability in Windows Authentication Methods that could allow authorized users to gain elevated system access on affected endpoints. This poses a significant risk to organizations where user accounts may be compromised or where privileged access controls are critical to security posture.
Implement least-privilege access policies limiting local administrative rights; enable Windows Defender Credential Guard on supported systems; deploy behavioral analytics to detect anomalous privilege escalation attempts; restrict interactive logons to high-value systems; enforce multi-factor authentication for privileged accounts; segment networks to limit lateral movement post-escalation; enable audit logging for authentication events and privilege use.
Threat Intelligence Overview
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.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to access memory through a pointer after that memory has been deallocated.
Memory corruption occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions or accesses memory in unintended ways, violating the integrity of the process's address space.
Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.
Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org
Related Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows Multiple Privilege Escalation
View all 37Unauthenticated remote code execution in SmarterTools SmarterMail lets an attacker upload arbitrary files to any locatio
Windows Win32k fails to properly handle objects in memory, allowing local privilege escalation exploited in the wild in
A privilege escalation vulnerability (CVSS 5.5). Risk factors: actively exploited (KEV-listed), EPSS 94% exploitation pr
Windows Internet Shortcut Files (.url) contain an external control vulnerability (CVE-2025-33053, CVSS 8.8) that enables
Windows SMB contains an improper access control vulnerability (CVE-2025-33073, CVSS 8.8) enabling authenticated attacker
An unrestricted file upload vulnerability exists in MiniWeb HTTP Server <= Build 300 that allows unauthenticated remote
FreeFloat FTP Server contains multiple critical design flaws that allow unauthenticated remote attackers to upload arbit
Serviio Media Server versions 1.4 through 1.8 on Windows contain an unauthenticated command injection in the /rest/actio
Mako Server versions 2.5 and 2.6 contain an unauthenticated OS command injection via the tutorial interface at examples/
React Native Metro Development Server binds to external interfaces by default and contains an OS command injection endpo
Command injection in the Windows Shell lets remote, unauthenticated attackers bypass a Windows security feature and then
External control of file name or path in Windows NTLM allows an unauthorized attacker to perform spoofing over a network
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB