Skip to main content
View

Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Obtain low-privileged local foothold
  2. Delivery
    Run crafted program calling Win32K GRFX
  3. Exploit
    Trigger heap-based buffer overflow in kernel
  4. Execution
    Corrupt kernel memory to execute code as SYSTEM
  5. Impact
    Full host compromise

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 the attacker to already have local, authenticated access to the Windows host with at least low/standard-user privileges (PR:L) and the ability to execute arbitrary code that invokes the vulnerable Win32K GRFX graphics code path; no user interaction (UI:N) and no special non-default configuration is needed, since Win32K is present and active on all standard Windows installations across the listed desktop (Windows 10 1607-22H2, Windows 11 23H2-26H2) and server (Server 2012 through Server 2025, including Server Core) builds. The key limiting factor is the local attack vector (AV:L): this cannot be triggered remotely or unauthenticated and functions only as a post-compromise privilege-escalation primitive, which meaningfully reduces real-world risk versus the raw 7.8 score. Highest exposure is on shared, multi-user, and remote-session hosts where untrusted users can run code.

Impact

This is a credible but not emergency-priority patch item. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, base 7.8) describes a local, low-complexity privilege-escalation flaw in the Win32K GRFX kernel component requiring that the attacker already hold low (non-admin) privileges on the target host - PR:L confirms the attacker must already be authenticated/running code locally, so this is not a remote entry point. No EPSS score was supplied, the CVE is NOT listed in CISA KEV, and no public POC is referenced, so there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis. The signals are therefore internally consistent rather than conflicting: high technical impact (full C/I/A compromise of the local system, i.e. kernel/SYSTEM) but gated behind requiring an initial foothold, which is the classic profile of a post-compromise LPE used in chaining rather than a mass-exploited internet-facing bug. The main driver of real-world priority is prevalence (Windows is ubiquitous) and the component (Win32K is a historically heavily-exploited kernel attack surface frequently weaponized after initial access), not any confirmed exploitation signal. Treat as a standard Patch-Tuesday-class LPE: patch on normal cadence, prioritizing multi-user, RDP/terminal-server, and workstation environments where untrusted local code can run.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who has already gained low-privileged code execution on a Windows host - e.g. via phishing, a malicious document, or a compromised standard user account - runs a crafted program that triggers the heap-based buffer overflow in the Win32K GRFX component. Successful exploitation corrupts kernel heap memory to gain SYSTEM-level privileges, enabling full control of the machine. No public exploit is identified at time of analysis, but Win32K LPEs are commonly weaponized as the privilege-escalation stage of broader intrusion chains.

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

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026

Local privilege escalation in the Windows Win32K graphics subsystem (GRFX component) allows an authenticated user holding only low or standard privileges to corrupt kernel pool memory and elevate to SYSTEM on affected Windows hosts. The heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) is reachable through the Win32K graphics code path that is active by default on every affected desktop and server build, so no special configuration or user interaction is required, but the attack is strictly local (AV:L, PR:L, UI:N), meaning it is usable only as a post-compromise escalation primitive after an attacker already has code execution on the host. No public exploit code and no confirmed active exploitation (CISA KEV) were identified at time of analysis; vendor patches are available from Microsoft, making this a credible but not emergency-priority patch item, with the highest exposure on shared, multi-user and remote-session hosts where untrusted users can run code.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: Microsoft fixed this issue in its update guide for CVE-2026-85901 (https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-85901) and states patches are available from the vendor, so the primary action is to apply the applicable cumulative security update produced by Windows Update, WSUS, Microsoft Update Catalog or Configuration Manager and confirm each host reaches the fixed build: 10.0.14393.9612 (Windows 10 1607 / Server 2016), 10.0.17763.9376 (Windows 10 1809 / Server 2019), 10.0.19044.7807 (Windows 10 21H2 and 22H2), 10.0.22631.7652 (Windows 11 23H2), 10.0.26100.9711 (Windows 11 24H2), 10.0.26100.33650 (Server 2025), 10.0.26200.9711 (Windows 11 25H2), 10.0.28000.3231 (Windows 11 26H1), 10.0.26300.9711 (Windows 11 26H2), 10.0.20348.5761 (Server 2022), 6.2.9200.26434 (Server 2012) and 6.3.9600.23470 (Server 2012 R2), including the matching Server Core builds. Because this is a local, low-privilege-to-SYSTEM kernel overflow, there is no service, port or feature that can simply be disabled to remove the attack surface - Win32K GRFX is always active - so until the update is deployed the practical compensating controls are to shrink the set of users who can execute code on multi-user and RDP/session hosts (least privilege, strict account separation, disabling or tightly restricting interactive logon for untrusted accounts), and to use application control (WDAC/AppLocker) or attack-surface-reduction rules to block untrusted binaries and script engines, accepting that these measures reduce attacker footholds rather than eliminating the vulnerability itself and may break line-of-business applications. Additional hardening that raises the cost of the post-exploitation step includes enabling Credential Guard and LSA protection to limit credential theft after SYSTEM is obtained, and monitoring for unusual token changes, unexpected SYSTEM process creation, or unsigned driver and pool-corruption indicators; these detective controls add overhead and false positives but do not patch the code path.

Affected VersionsENISA

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

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

Win32K.sys is the Windows kernel-mode driver that implements the window manager and Graphics Device Interface (GDI), and the GRFX component handles the modern graphics/composition-related kernel paths. The flaw is a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) in that component: the kernel allocates a pool buffer to hold graphics-related data and then writes beyond its boundary because a size or bounds check is missing or incorrect. Because the corruption occurs in kernel pool memory, a local attacker who can call into the vulnerable GRFX path with crafted input can overwrite adjacent pool allocation metadata or objects and pivot that primitive into kernel code execution, which in Windows translates directly into SYSTEM-level privilege over the machine. The attack surface is present on all standard installations - desktop builds Windows 10 1607 through 22H2 and Windows 11 23H2 through 26H2, and server builds Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2025 including Server Core - so exploitability depends only on the attacker already having local code execution, not on any optional feature being enabled. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, 7.8) confirms the local, low-privilege, no-interaction profile with full confidentiality, integrity and availability impact within the same security scope, consistent with a kernel memory-corruption primitive rather than a sandbox escape across a boundary.

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

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

Local-only kernel LPE requiring an existing low-privileged foothold (AV:L, PR:L), no user interaction, yielding full SYSTEM compromise (C/I/A:H) within the local system scope (S:U).

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/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
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Oct 13, 2026 - 20:20 EUVD
CVE Published
Oct 13, 2026 - 19:21 cve.org
HIGH 7.8

DescriptionCVE.org

Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Win32K - GRFX allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A high-severity privilege-escalation flaw in the Windows Win32K graphics subsystem affects default desktop and server builds, allowing a user who already has a foothold on a host to seize full SYSTEM-level control of that machine. The risk concentrates in shared, multi-user and remote-session environments such as RDS, VDI and jump hosts, where many lower-trust users already run code and a single compromised session can become full server control and a launch point for lateral movement. No public exploit code or confirmed active exploitation was identified at time of analysis, and Microsoft patches are available, so this is a prioritized scheduled remediation item rather than a crisis response.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.4%
Top 71% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Win32K is a core component of every supported Windows desktop and server
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation More 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.

CVE-2025-52691 CRITICAL POC
10.0 Dec 29

Unauthenticated remote code execution in SmarterTools SmarterMail lets an attacker upload arbitrary files to any locatio

CVE-2019-0803 HIGH POC
7.8 Apr 09

Windows Win32k fails to properly handle objects in memory, allowing local privilege escalation exploited in the wild in

CVE-2020-1472 MEDIUM POC
5.5 Aug 17

A privilege escalation vulnerability (CVSS 5.5). Risk factors: actively exploited (KEV-listed), EPSS 94% exploitation pr

CVE-2025-33053 HIGH POC
8.8 Jun 10

Windows Internet Shortcut Files (.url) contain an external control vulnerability (CVE-2025-33053, CVSS 8.8) that enables

CVE-2025-33073 HIGH POC
8.8 Jun 10

Windows SMB contains an improper access control vulnerability (CVE-2025-33073, CVSS 8.8) enabling authenticated attacker

CVE-2025-13315 CRITICAL POC
9.3 Nov 19

Twonky Server 8.5.2 on Linux and Windows allows unauthenticated access to the admin log file through a web service API b

CVE-2013-10047 CRITICAL POC
9.3 Aug 01

An unrestricted file upload vulnerability exists in MiniWeb HTTP Server <= Build 300 that allows unauthenticated remote

CVE-2012-10030 CRITICAL POC
9.3 Aug 05

FreeFloat FTP Server contains multiple critical design flaws that allow unauthenticated remote attackers to upload arbit

CVE-2025-34101 CRITICAL POC
9.3 Jul 10

Serviio Media Server versions 1.4 through 1.8 on Windows contain an unauthenticated command injection in the /rest/actio

CVE-2025-13316 HIGH POC
8.2 Nov 19

Twonky Server 8.5.2 uses hard-coded cryptographic keys for encrypting the administrator password. Combined with the cred

CVE-2025-34095 CRITICAL POC
9.3 Jul 10

Mako Server versions 2.5 and 2.6 contain an unauthenticated OS command injection via the tutorial interface at examples/

CVE-2025-11953 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Nov 03

React Native Metro Development Server binds to external interfaces by default and contains an OS command injection endpo

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy