EUVD-2026-43978
GHSA-c624-5cj9-56f8
Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local EoP needing a low-privileged foothold (AV:L/PR:L), no user interaction, low complexity, yielding SYSTEM with full C/I/A impact on the same host (S:U).
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Use after free in Microsoft Printer Drivers allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
AnalysisAI
Local privilege escalation in Microsoft Printer Drivers on Windows 11 (24H2, 25H2, 26H1) and Windows Server 2025 allows an authenticated local attacker to gain SYSTEM-level privileges by triggering a use-after-free memory-corruption condition. The flaw grants full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact (C:H/I:H/A:H) once low-level local access is obtained. …
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Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata
Vulnerability AssessmentAI
| Exploitation | Exploitation requires local access with an existing authenticated low-privileged account (CVSS PR:L) on an affected build - Windows 11 Version 24H2, 25H2, or 26H1, or Windows Server 2025 (including Server Core) - and the ability to reach the Microsoft Printer Drivers / print spooler code path that manages driver operations, which is present in default Windows configurations because the Print Spooler service runs by default. … Additional conditions and limiting factors are described in the full assessment. |
| Risk Assessment | The CVSS 3.1 vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (base 7.8, High) describes a local attack requiring low privileges and no user interaction, with high impact across all three security properties - a typical local EoP profile. … Full risk analysis with EPSS, KEV, and SSVC signal comparison available after sign-in. |
| Exploit Scenario | An attacker who has already obtained a low-privileged authenticated session on a Windows 11 24H2/25H2/26H1 or Windows Server 2025 host - for example via phishing, a stolen credential, or a compromised standard-user account - invokes the vulnerable printer driver code path to trigger the use-after-free and corrupt freed memory in the privileged print context. By grooming the heap and reclaiming the freed object, the attacker escalates from standard user to SYSTEM, gaining full control of the machine. … |
| Remediation | Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2026-49166; a vendor patch is available per the MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-49166, and administrators should deploy the corresponding cumulative update / KB for their specific build of Windows 11 24H2/25H2/26H1 or Windows Server 2025 (patch available per vendor advisory; the exact fixed version was not included in the input and should be read from the MSRC page). … Detailed patch versions, workarounds, and compensating controls in full report. |
Recommended ActionAI
Within 24 hours, inventory all Windows 11 (24H2, 25H2, 26H1) and Windows Server 2025 systems and validate local access attack surface (RDP, physical console, LSA logon sessions). …
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External POC / Exploit Code
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