Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local kernel EoP requiring prior low-privileged code execution (AV:L, PR:L), no user interaction, low complexity, yielding full SYSTEM-level C/I/A impact within an unchanged scope.
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Kernel allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
AnalysisAI
Local privilege escalation in the Microsoft Windows Kernel lets an already-authenticated attacker corrupt heap memory to gain SYSTEM-level control across Windows 10 (1809/21H2/22H2), Windows 11 (24H2/25H2/26H1), and Windows Server 2019/2022/2025. The CVSS 7.8 (AV:L/PR:L) rating reflects that low-privileged code execution is a prerequisite; there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis, but Microsoft has released a patch. This is a classic post-exploitation escalation primitive rather than an initial-access vector.
Technical ContextAI
The flaw is a CWE-122 heap-based buffer overflow inside the Windows Kernel (ntoskrnl-level code), meaning a size-check or bounds error allows an attacker-controlled write to overflow a dynamically allocated pool buffer. Because the vulnerable code runs in kernel mode (Ring 0), corrupting adjacent pool objects (e.g., overwriting object headers, function pointers, or pool metadata) can be steered into a controlled kernel write and ultimately arbitrary code execution or token manipulation. The CPE set confirms the affected surface is the shared kernel present in both client (Windows 10/11) and server (Server 2019/2022/2025) SKUs, including Server Core installations, indicating a common kernel component rather than an optional role or feature.
RemediationAI
Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2026-50484 via the vendor advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-50484 (Patch available per vendor advisory); deploy the cumulative update corresponding to each affected build through Windows Update, WSUS, or your patch-management tooling and reboot to load the fixed kernel. There is no configuration toggle to disable a core kernel component, so patching is the only complete fix; as interim compensating controls, restrict who can log in interactively or via RDP to trusted administrators (reduces the pool of local attackers who could stage this EoP), enforce least-privilege so commodity malware runs with minimal rights, and prioritize multi-user and internet-facing/RDP-exposed hosts - with the trade-off that access restrictions may disrupt legitimate remote workers and do not eliminate the underlying flaw. Prioritize Server Core and domain-critical systems where a SYSTEM escalation is most damaging.
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Same weakness CWE-122 – Heap-based Buffer Overflow
View allSame technique Heap Overflow
View allShare
External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today
EUVD-2026-44093
GHSA-39h3-xp4v-mc8c