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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 vulnerable Print Spooler component
  3. Exploit
    Trigger heap-based buffer overflow
  4. Execution
    Corrupt heap and hijack execution as SYSTEM
  5. Impact
    Escalate to full system control

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

Exploitation requires the attacker to already have valid low-privilege local access to the target (CVSS PR:L, AV:L) and the Windows Print Spooler service to be present and running, which it is by default on client SKUs and print servers. The specific prerequisite is the ability to invoke the affected Print Spooler Components locally to trigger the heap-based buffer overflow; no user interaction is needed (UI:N). Limiting factors that reduce real-world risk: the flaw is not remotely exploitable, it cannot be used for initial access, and it is neutralized on systems where the Print Spooler service has been disabled. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis, which further limits opportunistic use.

Impact

The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (High) reflects a local attack vector (AV:L), low complexity (AC:L), low privileges required (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope, and high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability - a classic reliable local-EoP profile once an attacker already has a foothold. No EPSS score and no SSVC decision data were provided, so automatable/exploitation-maturity signals cannot be independently weighed here. This is not remotely reachable and is not in CISA KEV, and no public proof-of-concept was supplied, so it is a second-stage escalation risk rather than an initial-access or wormable threat; nonetheless, Print Spooler EoP flaws are frequently weaponized post-compromise and should be patched promptly. No signals conflict with the description - the local, authorized-attacker framing is consistent with the AV:L/PR:L vector.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who has already obtained a low-privilege foothold on a Windows host - for example via phishing, a compromised service account, or stolen user credentials - invokes the vulnerable Print Spooler component with crafted input that overflows a heap buffer, corrupting adjacent memory to redirect execution inside the SYSTEM-context Spooler process. The result is escalation from a standard user to SYSTEM, enabling installation of tools, credential theft, and lateral movement. No public proof-of-concept is available at time of analysis, and exploitation requires prior local access.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Jul 14, 2026

Local privilege escalation in the Windows Print Spooler Components affects Windows 10 (1809, 21H2, 22H2), Windows 11 (24H2, 25H2, 26H1), and Windows Server 2019/2022/2025, where a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) lets an already-authenticated local user corrupt heap memory in a Spooler component and gain SYSTEM-level privileges. Exploitation requires low-privilege local access (CVSS AV:L/PR:L) with no user interaction, yielding full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and the CVE is not listed in CISA KEV.

RemediationAI

Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2026-50499 as described in the MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-50499 (Patch available per vendor advisory); the exact fixed KB build varies by OS SKU and must be taken from that Update Guide entry rather than a single global version number. Prioritize deployment on multi-user and server systems where low-privilege local accounts exist. As an interim compensating control, consider stopping and disabling the Print Spooler service (Stop-Service Spooler; Set-Service Spooler -StartupType Disabled) on systems that do not need printing - this eliminates the attack surface but breaks all local and network printing and, on print servers, removes print sharing, so it is only appropriate for endpoints and servers with no print role. Restricting local logon rights and minimizing the number of low-privilege interactive accounts further reduces who can reach the vulnerable local code path.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.2269
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9020
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5386
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.8875
Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9020
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33158
Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.8875
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9020
Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7548
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33158
Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.7548

Affected Packages

euvd windows_10_version_1809 fix: 10.0.17763.9020
euvd windows_10_version_21h2 fix: 10.0.19044.7548
euvd windows_10_version_22h2 fix: 10.0.19045.7548
euvd windows_11_version_24h2 fix: 10.0.26100.8875
euvd windows_11_version_25h2 fix: 10.0.26200.8875
euvd windows_11_version_26h1 fix: 10.0.28000.2269
euvd windows_server_2019 fix: 10.0.17763.9020
euvd windows_server_2019_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.17763.9020
euvd windows_server_2022 fix: 10.0.20348.5386
euvd windows_server_2025 fix: 10.0.26100.33158
euvd windows_server_2025_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.26100.33158

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 11 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 lives in the Windows Print Spooler subsystem (spoolsv.exe and its associated print components), a long-standing privileged service that runs as SYSTEM and has historically been a rich source of local privilege-escalation and remote code-execution bugs (e.g., the PrintNightmare family). The root cause class is CWE-122, a heap-based buffer overflow, meaning a length or bounds check on dynamically allocated (heap) memory is insufficient, allowing an attacker-controlled operation to write past the end of an allocated buffer. Because the Spooler processes print jobs and related IOCTL/RPC input while running with high privileges, corrupting its heap can be leveraged to overwrite adjacent structures and hijack execution flow within the privileged process. The affected CPE set spans client SKUs (Windows 10 1809/21H2/22H2, Windows 11 24H2/25H2/26H1) and server SKUs (Server 2019/2022/2025, including Server Core installations).

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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

Requires an existing low-privilege local account to reach the Spooler (AV:L, PR:L), no interaction, and successful heap corruption yields SYSTEM with full C/I/A impact.

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

DescriptionCVE.org

Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Print Spooler Components allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A local privilege escalation vulnerability in Windows Print Spooler across Windows 10, 11, and Server 2019/2022/2025 allows authenticated local users to escalate to SYSTEM level through heap memory corruption. This exposes the organization to lateral movement and full system compromise from any compromised low-privilege account or insider threat with local access. Immediate patching is required to mitigate the attack surface across the Windows fleet.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 84% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Print Spooler ships enabled by default across virtually all Windows installations
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 0.2%
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

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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