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Windows DWM Core Library EUVDEUVD-2026-35749

| CVE-2026-44807 HIGH
Use After Free (CWE-416)
2026-06-09 secure@microsoft.com GHSA-h3xf-v64x-587v
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
    Obtain low-priv local session
  2. Delivery
    Invoke vulnerable DWM Core API
  3. Exploit
    Trigger use-after-free on freed object
  4. Execution
    Groom heap and reuse allocation
  5. Persist
    Hijack execution to SYSTEM
  6. Impact
    Disable defenses and persist

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Memory lifecycle management
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Privilege Escalation

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Attacker must already have authenticated low-privileged code execution on the target Windows host (CVSS PR:L, AV:L) - this is a post-compromise privilege-escalation primitive, not a remote entry point. No user interaction is required (UI:N) and attack complexity is low (AC:L), so once local access is obtained exploitation is straightforward against an unpatched DWM Core Library. Limiting factors: cannot be triggered across the network, requires a valid local logon session, and is constrained to Windows builds shipping the vulnerable DWM Core Library version listed in the MSRC advisory.

Impact

Signals are mixed but lean toward moderate priority. CVSS 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N) confirms local access with low-privileged authentication required, no user interaction, and total impact - typical of post-compromise privilege escalation chains used after phishing or initial foothold. However, CISA's SSVC framework rates Exploitation as 'none' and Automatable as 'no', indicating no observed in-the-wild activity, and no public exploit identified at time of analysis. EPSS data was not supplied in the input, so probabilistic exploitation likelihood cannot be quantified. This is a credible privilege-escalation primitive against a high-value Windows component, but not an emergency unless paired with active exploitation reporting from Microsoft's MSRC advisory; verify against the MSRC update guide for any change in exploitation status.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who has obtained low-privileged code execution on a Windows host - for example via a phishing payload, a compromised RDP account, or a malicious insider session - triggers the use-after-free condition in the DWM Core Library through crafted graphics or compositor API calls, grooms the freed allocation, and gains SYSTEM-level execution. From there the attacker disables endpoint defenses, dumps LSASS for credential theft, and pivots laterally. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, so this scenario is theoretical and grounded in the CVSS local-vector profile.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Jun 09, 2026

Local privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows Desktop Window Manager (DWM) Core Library allows an authenticated low-privileged user to elevate to SYSTEM via a use-after-free memory corruption flaw. CVSS 7.8 with high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but currently no public exploit identified at time of analysis and CISA SSVC rates exploitation status as 'none' with automation as 'no'.

RemediationAI

Patch available per vendor advisory - apply the Microsoft security update referenced at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-44807 through Windows Update or WSUS for the matching Windows build; exact KB numbers are listed on that MSRC page and should be cited in the change ticket. No vendor-supplied workaround is referenced in the available data, so as a compensating control until patching completes, restrict interactive and remote-desktop logon rights on sensitive hosts to reduce the population of accounts that can supply the required PR:L access, and monitor for crashes or unexpected restarts of the dwm.exe process which can indicate exploitation attempts (side effect: dwm crashes also occur benignly under graphics driver faults, so tune accordingly). Secondary reference at https://vuldb.com/vuln/369644 may provide additional remediation context.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.2269

Affected Packages

euvd windows_11_version_26h1 fix: 10.0.28000.2269

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

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

Technical ContextAI · show details

The Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is the compositing window manager in Windows responsible for hardware-accelerated rendering of the desktop, transparency effects, and window thumbnails. Its core library runs with elevated privileges and brokers requests from user-mode applications, making it a recurring target for local privilege escalation research. CWE-416 (Use After Free) indicates the flaw stems from continued reference to a freed memory object, which an attacker can groom and reuse to corrupt kernel or service-level memory structures to gain control of execution flow.

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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

Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft) · only source for this CVE.

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
Jun 09, 2026 - 19:03 EUVD
CVE Published
Jun 09, 2026 - 17:17 nvd
HIGH 7.8

DescriptionCVE.org

Use after free in Windows DWM Core Library allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Microsoft Windows Desktop Window Manager (DWM) Core Library contains a critical local privilege escalation vulnerability allowing low-privilege users to gain SYSTEM-level access and fully compromise affected Windows systems. Any user with local logon capability-including contractors, temporary staff, or Remote Desktop sessions-poses an immediate elevation-of-privilege risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. With no vendor patch currently available, organizations must immediately reduce attack surface by restricting local access and implementing interim security controls.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis. Interim mitigations: (1) Restrict local logon rights via Group Policy to only essential personnel; (2) Deploy privileged access management to control and audit SYSTEM-level operations; (3) Enable detailed audit logging for privilege escalation attempts; (4) Apply application whitelisting on critical systems; (5) Monitor process creation and memory access patterns for exploitation indicators. Re-assess when patch becomes available.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 81% exploitable
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Less Likely
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High

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 0.1%
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
Scheduled
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

Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to access memory through a pointer after that memory has been deallocated.

Memory corruption occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions or accesses memory in unintended ways, violating the integrity of the process's address space.

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