Windows
CVE-2026-25178
HIGH
Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessTrigger use-after-free in AFD.sys via malicious IOCTL call
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ExploitCorrupt kernel memory structures
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ExecutionExecute arbitrary code in kernel context
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ImpactAchieve SYSTEM privilege escalation
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A06:2021 - Vulnerable and Outdated Components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 | Authenticated local user account required. Windows Ancillary Function Driver (AFD.sys) must be loaded. Attacker requires ability to issue IOCTL requests to AFD device. Exploitation requires specific race condition timing or heap spray preparation (AC:H indicates difficult conditions). |
| 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. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026
Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock (AFD) in Windows 11 versions 24h2 and 26h1 contains a use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) that allows authenticated local attackers to escalate privileges through memory corruption. An attacker with local access could exploit this flaw to gain elevated system permissions, though no official patch is currently available.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
Use after free in Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock 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 Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock 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
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 Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Executive ViewAI
A local privilege escalation vulnerability in Windows WinSock subsystem (CVE-2026-25178) poses a direct threat to any organization running affected Windows systems. An authorized user could exploit this to gain administrative access, potentially enabling lateral movement, data theft, or malware deployment across your network. With no patch currently available, immediate interim mitigation is required to reduce organizational risk.
Restrict local administrative privileges to essential users only; implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized execution; monitor and log all privilege escalation attempts; disable unnecessary WinSock functionality where operationally feasible; apply principle of least privilege across user accounts; segment networks to limit lateral movement if privilege escalation occurs; maintain enhanced logging of local administrator activities; regularly audit access rights.
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
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GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB