Skip to main content

Windows RMCAST Driver EUVDEUVD-2026-100069

| CVE-2026-85943 HIGH
Heap-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-122)
2026-10-13 secure@microsoft.com GHSA-7543-m55x-c77x
7.0
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: microsoft
View

Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Obtain low-privileged local account
  2. Delivery
    Invoke RMCAST driver operation
  3. Exploit
    Win TOCTOU race window
  4. Execution
    Corrupt kernel heap (CWE-122)
  5. Impact
    Elevate to SYSTEM privileges

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 possess local, authenticated access to the Windows host with at least low-level privileges (CVSS PR:L, AV:L) - this is a local privilege-escalation flaw, not remotely reachable. The specific component is the Reliable Multicast Transport Driver (RMCAST, pgm.sys), so the driver path must be reachable from the attacker's context. The TOCTOU nature (AC:H) means the attacker must repeatedly and reliably win a narrow timing window between the driver's check and its use of a resource, making exploitation non-deterministic and typically requiring many attempts. No user interaction is required (UI:N). The chief limiting factors are the mandatory pre-existing local foothold and the inherent unreliability of winning the race.

Impact

This is a genuine but not top-tier priority. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U) describes a local, authenticated attack of high complexity - the attacker must already have a foothold with low-privilege credentials on the Windows host and must reliably win a race window inherent to the time-of-check/time-of-use flaw, which is non-deterministic. Impact is high across confidentiality, integrity and availability because success yields privilege elevation (typically SYSTEM). No EPSS score, KEV listing, SSVC decision, or POC was provided; per the available data this is 'no public exploit identified at time of analysis.' There is no signal of active exploitation or automatable mass exploitation. The 7.0 base score is driven almost entirely by the full C/I/A impact, while the AC:H race condition and the PR:L local-access requirement substantially dampen real-world likelihood. It is a solid patch-in-normal-cycle item and a useful second-stage tool for an attacker who already has code execution, rather than an initial-access or wormable threat. Note the CWE-122 (heap-based buffer overflow) and the 'Buffer Overflow'/'Heap Overflow' tags sit alongside a description that frames the root cause as a TOCTOU race; this is not necessarily conflicting (a race can lead to a heap overwrite) but the mechanism should be confirmed with the Microsoft advisory.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who already has low-privileged access to a Windows system (e.g., via a standard user account or a compromised low-integrity process) runs a local exploit that repeatedly triggers operations against the Reliable Multicast Transport Driver, racing to manipulate a resource between the driver's validation and its use. Winning the race corrupts kernel heap memory and lets the attacker elevate to SYSTEM. No public exploit code was identified at the time of analysis, and the high attack complexity means success likely requires multiple attempts.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.2% 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 Reliable Multicast Transport Driver (RMCAST, pgm.sys) lets an attacker who already holds low-privileged local access on a vulnerable host win a time-of-check time-of-use race and elevate to SYSTEM-level execution. The flaw is not remotely reachable: exploitation requires a pre-existing local, authenticated foothold (AV:L/PR:L) and must be repeated many times to reliably hit the narrow check/use window (AC:H), but a successful race yields full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Microsoft has released fixed builds for the affected Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server branches; no public exploit code and no confirmed active exploitation (CISA KEV) were identified at the time of analysis, and no EPSS score was supplied with the source data.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: apply the Microsoft cumulative update that brings each branch to its fixed build - Windows 10 21H2 to 10.0.19044.7807, Windows 10 1809 to 10.0.17763.9376, Windows 10 1607 to 10.0.14393.9612, Windows 11 23H2 to 10.0.22631.7652, Windows 11 24H2 to 10.0.26100.9711, Windows 11 25H2 to 10.0.26200.9711, Windows 11 26H1 to 10.0.28000.3231, Windows 11 26H2 to 10.0.26300.9711, Server 2012 to 6.2.9200.26434, Server 2012 R2 to 6.3.9600.23470, Server 2016 to 10.0.14393.9612, Server 2019 to 10.0.17763.9376, Server 2022 to 10.0.20348.5761, and Server 2025 to 10.0.26100.33650, per the MSRC update guide at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-85943. Because this is a local privilege-escalation race that already requires a low-privileged foothold, no network workaround substitutes for patching; the realistic interim controls are attack-surface reduction and containment. If reliable multicast over PGM is not in use, remove or disable the RMCAST/PGM driver (or restrict it via driver-blocking rules) - the trade-off is that MSMQ multicast messaging and any PGM-dependent application will stop working. Tighten who can log on interactively or over RDP, since the vulnerability cannot be reached without an existing local session, and audit for low-privileged processes repeatedly opening handles to the RMCAST device object, which is a plausible indicator of race attempts. Prioritize internet-facing and multi-user hosts (RDP servers, VDI, terminal servers) where an initial low-privilege foothold is easiest to obtain; there is no KEV listing, so normal patch-cycle scheduling is appropriate for well-segmented environments.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7807
Windows 11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.7652
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
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
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612
Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19044.7807
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 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 26H2 10.0.26300.0 <10.0.26300.9711
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33650
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 Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23470
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 2012 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26434

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

RMCAST is the Windows kernel driver implementing Pragmatic General Multicast (PGM, RFC 3208), the reliable multicast transport consumed by components such as MSMQ and Windows multicast applications; the driver is exposed through its IOCTL/IRP surface to any local caller that can open a handle to it. The reported root cause is a time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) race: the driver validates or sizes a resource and then uses it in a later, unsynchronized step, so a concurrent thread can alter the state between the check and the use. Notably, the source data is internally inconsistent about the weakness class - the description frames this as a TOCTOU race, while the assigned CWE is CWE-122 (heap-based buffer overflow) and the tags read Buffer Overflow / Heap Overflow. The most plausible reconciled reading is that winning the race causes the driver to operate on a stale, re-freed, or mismatched heap buffer, producing a heap overflow that corrupts kernel memory and enables elevation; either way, the defect class is unsynchronized check-and-use inside a privileged kernel component. No CPE strings were provided, so exact affected product identification rests on the EUVD OS build ranges.

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 7.0 HIGH
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.0 HIGH

Local-only kernel-driver flaw needing a pre-existing low-priv account (AV:L/PR:L) and a hard-to-win race (AC:H); successful EoP to SYSTEM yields full C/I/A.

3.1 AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:H/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
High
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 7.0

DescriptionCVE.org

Time-of-check time-of-use (toctou) race condition in Reliable Multicast Transport Driver (RMCAST) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A privilege-escalation flaw in the Windows Reliable Multicast Transport Driver (pgm.sys) allows an attacker who already has a low-privileged foothold on a Windows 10, Windows 11, or Windows Server host to race a check-and-use condition and gain full SYSTEM control of that machine. Because it is local-only and difficult to trigger reliably, the immediate external risk is limited, but any endpoint where a standard user or malware already runs becomes a candidate for full administrative compromise, which matters for environments with broad local user access, shared workstations, or RDP/VDI sessions. Microsoft has released fixed builds, so the exposure is largely a patching-discipline problem rather than an emergency zero-interaction threat.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. Where patching must be deferred, reduce local privileged-access exposure on affected hosts by disabling the RMCAST/PGM driver where multicast transport is not required, restricting interactive and RDP logon to trusted users, removing unnecessary local administrative rights and shared local accounts, and monitoring for repeated local privilege-escalation behaviour against pgm.sys.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 92% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Microsoft Windows client and server, present in nearly all environments
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 0.2%
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

35
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +35
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