EUVD-2026-43882
GHSA-w9g3-hj99-cjrw
Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local privilege escalation needs an existing low-priv account (AV:L, PR:L) with no user interaction and low complexity, yielding full CIA impact within an unchanged scope.
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Null pointer dereference in Windows Image Acquisition allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
AnalysisAI
Local privilege escalation in Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) affects Windows 11 (24H2, 25H2, 26H1) and Windows Server 2025, where a NULL pointer dereference can be leveraged by an already-authenticated local user to elevate privileges. Microsoft rates it 7.8 (High) with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact despite the flaw class typically causing denial of service. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis, and it is not listed in CISA KEV.
Technical ContextAI
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) is the built-in Windows service and driver framework (wiaservc/wiarpc) that mediates access to scanners, cameras, and other imaging devices for user-mode applications. The root cause is CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference): code paths in the WIA component dereference a pointer that can be NULL - typically the result of an unchecked allocation or a missing validation of a caller-controlled or state-dependent object before use. While a NULL dereference in kernel or privileged service context classically produces a crash (denial of service, reflected in the vendor tags), Microsoft's CVSS characterizes this as an elevation-of-privilege primitive, implying the condition is reachable in a manner that grants execution or object control in a higher-privileged context rather than merely faulting. The affected CPEs are application-level entries for Windows 11 versions 24H2/25H2/26H1, Windows Server 2025, and its Server Core installation.
RemediationAI
Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2026-50315 via the MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-50315; patch availability is confirmed by the vendor, though an exact fixed build/KB number was not provided in the input and should be taken from the MSRC page for each affected release (Windows 11 24H2/25H2/26H1, Windows Server 2025 and Server Core). Because exploitation requires an existing local low-privileged foothold, interim compensating controls focus on limiting local access: restrict interactive and remote-desktop logon rights to trusted accounts, enforce least privilege so standard users cannot run untrusted code, and - where imaging hardware is not needed (common on servers) - disable or set the Windows Image Acquisition (stisvc) service to prevent the vulnerable component from being invoked, accepting the trade-off that scanner/camera acquisition functionality will be lost. Monitor for unexpected WIA service crashes as a possible exploitation or DoS indicator.
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Same weakness CWE-476 – NULL Pointer Dereference
View allSame technique Denial Of Service
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External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today