EUVD-2026-35587
GHSA-3c3c-r5gv-pf8w
Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessCraft malicious media file
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DeliveryDeliver via email or web download
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ExploitVictim opens file in Windows Media handler
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ExecutionTrigger heap buffer overflow during parsing
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PersistHijack control flow via corrupted heap metadata
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ImpactExecute arbitrary code as victim user
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 | The victim must open or render a maliciously crafted media file using a Windows Media-backed handler - this is the explicit UI:R requirement in the CVSS vector. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker delivers the file but does not need network reachability to the target service; common delivery channels are email attachments, web downloads, removable media, or SMB shares. No authentication on the target is required (PR:N), and attack complexity is low (AC:L), but exploitation is bounded by user-driven file interaction and by whatever Windows Media component versions are present on the target - meaning hardened endpoints that block media file delivery, or users who do not open the file, are not exploitable. |
| Impact | The CVSS 7.8 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R) describes a low-complexity local attack requiring no privileges but requiring user interaction - consistent with a file-open or media-render scenario rather than network-reachable exploitation. EPSS, SSVC, and KEV status are not provided in the input, so real-world exploitation probability cannot be quantitatively assessed; however, the absence of a KEV entry and a public PoC suggests this is not currently a confirmed mass-exploitation event. High impact across CIA combined with the typical Windows Media exposure surface (any user double-clicking or previewing untrusted media) makes this a meaningful client-side risk worth prompt patching, though it is not network-exploitable wormable code execution. A discrepancy worth flagging: PR:N in the vector indicates no privileges required for the attacker, while exploitation occurs in the victim user's context - defenders should treat blast radius as equivalent to that user's privilege level. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker emails a victim a crafted media file (or hosts it on a website the victim is lured to visit) and the victim double-clicks or previews it in a Windows Media-backed handler. Parsing the malformed media stream triggers a heap overflow that corrupts adjacent heap metadata or object pointers, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code in the victim's user context. No public proof-of-concept has been identified at the time of analysis. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Jun 09, 2026
Local code execution in Microsoft Windows Media is possible through a heap-based buffer overflow that triggers when a user opens or processes a crafted media file. The flaw (CWE-122) carries a CVSS 7.8 with local attack vector and user interaction required, and no public exploit identified at time of analysis. Successful exploitation yields high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability within the user's security context.
RemediationAI
Apply the Microsoft security update referenced in the MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-48574 as soon as it is released to your servicing channel; exact fixed build numbers must be obtained from that advisory as they are not included in the provided data (patch available per vendor advisory). Until patched, compensating controls include blocking inbound delivery of high-risk media file types at email and web gateways, configuring Attack Surface Reduction rules to limit Office and browser child-process spawning of media handlers, and instructing users not to open media files from untrusted sources - note that ASR rules can break legitimate workflows that embed media in documents, and gateway blocking may disrupt business communications that include video attachments.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 33 packages in microsoft, 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 Media component, a Microsoft-developed media handling subsystem that parses and renders audio/video content for Windows applications. CWE-122 (Heap-Based Buffer Overflow) indicates that during parsing of attacker-controlled media data, the component writes beyond the bounds of a heap-allocated buffer - typically due to missing or incorrect length validation against attacker-supplied field sizes. Heap corruption of this type is commonly leveraged to overwrite adjacent allocator metadata or object vtables to redirect control flow. Specific affected CPEs are not enumerated in the provided data; only the MSRC advisory entry is referenced.
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Media allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
Executive ViewAI
A high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Media (CVE-2026-48574, CVSS 7.8) allows attackers with local access to execute code by distributing crafted media files to end users, posing significant risk to data security and system availability. Although no public exploit identified at time of analysis, the absence of a vendor patch makes this a priority for immediate compensating controls across the organization.
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Compensating controls: (1) Disable Windows Media autoplay and shell integration features; (2) Apply application control policies to prevent unsigned media player execution; (3) Enable endpoint detection and response (EDR) monitoring for Windows Media process anomalies; (4) Conduct security awareness training on media file risks and social engineering tactics; (5) Quarantine and analyze suspicious media files in isolated sandbox environments.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
VulDB
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.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
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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