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PostScript Printer Driver CVE-2026-70109

| EUVDEUVD-2026-99685 HIGH
Heap-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-122)
2026-10-13 secure@microsoft.com GHSA-q98c-55p8-2r3q
7.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: microsoft
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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Gain local foothold on Windows host
  2. Delivery
    Deliver crafted PostScript print job/file
  3. Exploit
    Victim triggers print processing (UI:R)
  4. Execution
    Overflow heap buffer in PS printer driver
  5. Impact
    Execute code with elevated privilege

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
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.

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires local access to a Windows system and victim user interaction (UI:R) - specifically the processing of an attacker-supplied PostScript print job or document by the Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver component. The attack is local-only (AV:L), so it is not remotely reachable over the network and cannot be triggered without the targeted printing/driver code path being exercised. No elevated privileges are needed to initiate (PR:N), but the mandatory user action and local-access requirement, combined with SSVC 'not automatable,' limit this to targeted rather than opportunistic mass exploitation. Applying the vendor patch to the fixed build ranges (e.g., Windows 11 24H2 >=10.0.26100.9711, Windows Server 2025 >=10.0.26100.33650) fully remediates.

Impact

This is a genuine, patch-worthy local privilege-escalation issue but not an emergency. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, base 7.8) describes a low-complexity local attack needing no prior privileges but requiring user interaction, yielding total confidentiality/integrity/availability impact within an unchanged scope. The SSVC framework reinforces a measured priority: exploitation status is 'none' (no observed or public exploitation), the flaw is 'not automatable' (so no worm/mass-exploitation vector), yet technical impact is 'total' - consistent with code execution at elevated privilege. There is no CISA KEV listing and no public exploit identified, so per PRECISION RULES this is 'no public exploit identified at time of analysis.' EPSS was not supplied in the input and therefore cannot be cited. The signals are mutually consistent rather than conflicting: a high-impact but hard-to-mass-exploit local EoP in an extremely widely deployed component. Because PR:N is present, exploitation is unauthenticated in the local sense, but UI:R means a victim action (e.g., opening or printing a malicious document/file) is required, which materially limits opportunistic use.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A low-privileged or unauthenticated local user, or an attacker who has already gained a foothold on a Windows host, delivers a malicious file that triggers heap-based buffer overflow processing in the Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver when the victim performs a printing-related action. Successful exploitation corrupts heap memory to execute attacker-controlled code at elevated (SYSTEM-level) privilege. No public exploit code has been identified at the time of analysis, and CISA SSVC lists exploitation as 'none.'

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.4% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 14, 2026

A heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) in the Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver lets a local attacker who persuades a victim to process a crafted PostScript print job or document elevate privileges on affected Windows client and server releases. The flaw requires local access (AV:L) and user interaction (UI:R) but no prior privileges (PR:N), so it is a targeted rather than opportunistic local privilege-escalation vector; CISA SSVC rates it non-automatable with no observed exploitation, and no public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis. Vendor patches are available and, per the assessed impact (C:H/I:H/A:H), successful exploitation gives full code execution in the driver's higher-privileged context.

RemediationAI

Apply the vendor update for CVE-2026-70109 from the Microsoft Security Response Center guide (https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-70109); the fixed builds are, for example, Windows 11 24H2 10.0.26100.9711, Windows 11 25H2 10.0.26200.9711, Windows 11 23H2 10.0.22631.7652, Windows 11 26H1 10.0.28000.3231, Windows 11 26H2 10.0.26300.9711, Windows 10 21H2 10.0.19044.7807, Windows 10 22H2 10.0.19045.7807, Windows 10 1809 10.0.17763.9376, Windows 10 1607 10.0.14393.9612, Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.33650, Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.5761, Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.9376, Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.9612, Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3.9600.23470 and Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.26434. Although broadly considered unavailable, this is a local-only, interaction-driven issue (AV:L/UI:R/PR:N, SSVC exploitation none, not automatable), so compensating controls are reasonable where patching must be staged: restrict standard users from installing or modifying printers and printer drivers (Group Policy 'Point and Print Restrictions' / driver installation restrictions), which reduces an attacker's ability to stage the malicious PostScript queue or driver, at the cost of blocking legitimate user-managed print setups; remove or disable the PostScript printer driver (pscript5.dll) or block the PostScript print processor on hosts that do not require PostScript printing, accepting the functional loss of PostScript output; and train users not to open or print untrusted PostScript/print-job documents, though this is fragile because the interaction requirement still exists. None of these workarounds substitute for the vendor patch, which per the assessment fully remediates the affected fixed build ranges.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33650
Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23470
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26434
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19044.7807
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
Windows 10 Version 1607 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612
Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7807
Windows 11 Version 26H2 10.0.26300.0 <10.0.26300.9711
Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.9711
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612
Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26434
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33650
Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.3231
Windows 11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.7652
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23470
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.9711
Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5761

Affected Packages

euvd windows_10_version_1607 fix: 10.0.14393.9612
euvd windows_10_version_1809 fix: 10.0.17763.9376
euvd windows_10_version_21h2 fix: 10.0.19044.7807
euvd windows_10_version_22h2 fix: 10.0.19044.7807
euvd windows_11_version_23h2 fix: 10.0.22631.7652
euvd windows_11_version_24h2 fix: 10.0.26100.9711
euvd windows_11_version_25h2 fix: 10.0.26200.9711
euvd windows_11_version_26h1 fix: 10.0.28000.3231
euvd windows_11_version_26h2 fix: 10.0.26300.9711
euvd windows_server_2012 fix: 6.2.9200.26434
euvd windows_server_2012_r2 fix: 6.3.9600.23470
euvd windows_server_2012_r2_server_core_installation fix: 6.3.9600.23470
euvd windows_server_2012_server_core_installation fix: 6.2.9200.26434
euvd windows_server_2016 fix: 10.0.14393.9612
euvd windows_server_2016_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.14393.9612
euvd windows_server_2019 fix: 10.0.17763.9376
euvd windows_server_2019_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.17763.9376
euvd windows_server_2022 fix: 10.0.20348.5761
euvd windows_server_2025 fix: 10.0.26100.33650
euvd windows_server_2025_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.26100.33650

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 20 packages in euvd

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

Technical ContextAI · show details

The vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) in the Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver, the Windows component that parses and translates PostScript print data for the printing subsystem. When the driver processes a malformed PostScript stream - delivered as part of an attacker-supplied print job or document - heap memory adjacent to an allocated buffer is overwritten, corrupting the driver's internal state. Because the print driver executes within the privileged printing/spooler context rather than the calling user's context, the memory corruption can be leveraged to run arbitrary code at elevated integrity, which is what makes a purely local, interaction-driven input path (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R) score 7.8 with high confidentiality, integrity and availability impact. The attack is confined to the local machine's printing/driver code path; it is not network reachable and the prerequisite of a victim opening or printing the crafted content is the key limiting factor (SSVC: not automatable).

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.8 HIGH

Local driver flaw triggered by victim-supplied print data, so AV:L and UI:R; no prior auth needed (PR:N) and heap-overflow code execution yields full C/I/A impact.

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).

CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Oct 13, 2026 - 20:20 EUVD
CVE Published
Oct 13, 2026 - 19:19 cve.org
HIGH 7.8

DescriptionCVE.org

Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2026-70109 affects the Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver on Windows client and server releases, creating a high-severity path for a local attacker to gain elevated code execution through a targeted print-related user action. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, and CISA SSVC rates the issue non-automatable, so the near-term threat is targeted rather than broad. Leadership should care because successful exploitation can compromise the privileges of endpoints and servers used by high-value users, making patch coverage and print-driver attack-surface reduction a priority.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.4%
Top 65% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver ships across all supported Windows editions
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Less Likely
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

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 0.4%
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
Defer
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

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

Attack Technique

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.

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

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