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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Obtain low-privilege local access
  2. Delivery
    Invoke COM+ Event System Service
  3. Exploit
    Supply input triggering untrusted pointer dereference
  4. Execution
    Corrupt memory in privileged context
  5. Persist
    Execute code as SYSTEM
  6. Impact
    Full host compromise

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Untrusted pointer prevention
Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires the attacker to already possess local, low-privileged authenticated access to the Windows host (CVSS PR:L/AV:L) and to be able to interact with the COM+ Event System Service, which is present and running by default across Windows client and server editions - so no non-default feature toggle is needed, but a pre-existing foothold is mandatory. There is no remote or unauthenticated path: the AV:L vector rules out network delivery, and the lack of a network listener limits exploitation to users or processes already executing on the machine. No user interaction is required (UI:N), and attack complexity is low (AC:L), so the main limiting factor is the prerequisite local access rather than any special configuration.

Impact

The provided 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 privilege-escalation flaw: an attacker must already have low-privilege authenticated access to the target host (PR:L) and attack it locally (AV:L), with low complexity and no user interaction, yielding full confidentiality, integrity and availability impact once triggered. This is a classic second-stage escalation primitive rather than an initial-access or wormable network bug. No EPSS score, CISA KEV listing, or public POC is present in the supplied data, so there is no evidence of active exploitation or weaponization; the risk is currently theoretical/patch-hygiene driven rather than emergency. Two data-quality signals conflict with the vulnerability class: the 'Information Disclosure' tag contradicts the description ('elevate privileges locally') and the full C/I/A=High impact, so treat this as an Elevation of Privilege issue, not information disclosure. Because the affected component (COM+ Event System Service) ships in every supported Windows client and server edition, the aggregate exposure is very large even though per-host exploitation requires prior local access - making this a high-priority patch in managed fleets but not a drop-everything internet-facing emergency absent exploitation evidence.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who has already gained low-privilege code execution on a Windows host (e.g., via phishing, a compromised service account, or a prior foothold) invokes the COM+ Event System Service and supplies data that causes it to dereference an untrusted pointer, corrupting memory in a privileged context. By controlling that dereference the attacker executes code as SYSTEM, escalating from a standard user to full host compromise. No public exploit code is identified in the supplied data; exploitation requires local authenticated access (AV:L/PR:L) but is low-complexity with no user interaction.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026

Local privilege escalation in the Windows COM+ Event System Service allows an authenticated low-privileged user to elevate to a high-integrity level (e.g., SYSTEM) via an untrusted pointer dereference (CWE-822), achieving full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Affected systems span a wide range of Windows client and server editions, from Windows 10 1607 through Windows 11 26H2 and Windows Server 2012 through 2025. No public exploit code or active exploitation has been identified at the time of analysis, but a vendor patch is available.

RemediationAI

Apply the vendor security update that brings affected systems to at least the following build versions: Windows Server 2012: 6.2.9200.26434; Windows Server 2012 R2: 6.3.9600.23470; Windows Server 2016: 10.0.14393.9612; Windows 10 1809 and Windows Server 2019: 10.0.17763.9376; Windows 10 21H2: 10.0.19044.7807; Windows 10 22H2: 10.0.19044.7807 (verify against vendor); Windows 11 23H2: 10.0.22631.7652; Windows 11 24H2: 10.0.26100.9711; Windows 11 25H2: 10.0.26200.9711; Windows 11 26H1: 10.0.28000.3231; Windows 11 26H2: 10.0.26300.9711; Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.5761; Windows Server 2025: 10.0.26100.33650. Refer to the Microsoft advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96933 for the latest guidance. No specific workarounds are detailed in the advisory; because the COM+ Event System Service is core to Windows, disabling it is not recommended and may break COM+ functionality. As a compensating control, enforce least privilege to limit local authenticated access and monitor for unusual COM+ event system activity.

Affected VersionsENISA

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

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 resides in the Windows COM+ Event System Service, a core Windows component that provides event subscription and delivery for COM+ applications. CWE-822 (Untrusted Pointer Dereference) indicates the service fails to validate a pointer before dereferencing it, allowing an attacker who can influence that pointer to execute code in the context of the service. The service runs with SYSTEM privileges by default and is present on all affected Windows versions, including Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2012 through 2025. Exploitation requires local, authenticated access (PR:L/AV:L) and low complexity (AC:L) with no user interaction (UI:N); the main prerequisite is a pre-existing foothold on the target host.

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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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.8 HIGH

Local privilege escalation requiring an existing low-privileged account (AV:L, PR:L), low-complexity with no user interaction, yielding SYSTEM-level control hence C/I/A:H.

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 - 19:22 cve.org
HIGH 7.8

DescriptionCVE.org

Untrusted pointer dereference in Windows COM+ Event System Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A high-severity local privilege escalation flaw in the Windows COM+ Event System Service affects virtually the entire supported Windows estate, from Windows 10 1607 through Windows 11 26H2 and Windows Server 2012 through 2025, allowing a low-privileged user already working on a machine to gain SYSTEM-level control with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Because the flaw requires local access and no public exploit code or active exploitation has been identified at the time of analysis, the immediate risk is concentrated in endpoint and multi-user server environments where unprivileged accounts are commonly available. The practical consequence for leadership is that any single compromised user account or low-privilege foothold could be converted into full administrative control of that host, so remediation should be driven through normal patch governance rather than crisis response.

Business Impact: Medium
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 77% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
COM+ Event System ships in all supported Windows client and server 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 0.3%
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
Medium
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
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