EUVD-2026-44125
GHSA-mvf4-pj98-2r3v
Severity by source
AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
AV:P confirmed by description; PR:N because no OS credentials are needed, only physical hardware access; all impacts High due to privilege escalation to SYSTEM.
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows NTFS allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges with a physical attack.
AnalysisAI
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows NTFS filesystem driver affects a broad range of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server versions, requiring only physical access to the target device - no OS credentials needed. An attacker with hands-on access to the hardware can trigger a heap overflow in NTFS processing to gain elevated privileges, potentially achieving full system compromise (High C/I/A). No public exploit code has been identified and this CVE is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog, but the combination of zero authentication requirements and critical-level impact makes it a realistic threat for physically accessible endpoints. A vendor-supplied patch is available via the Microsoft Security Response Center.
Technical ContextAI
The vulnerability resides in Windows' NTFS (New Technology File System) driver, the default filesystem for Windows systems since Windows NT. CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) identifies the root cause: a specially crafted NTFS volume or filesystem structure causes a write beyond the bounds of a heap-allocated buffer in the driver, corrupting adjacent memory. Because NTFS parsing can occur at high privilege levels (kernel mode), successful exploitation translates directly to kernel-level code execution or privilege escalation. The CVSS vector AV:P confirms the attack must originate from physical interaction - for example, mounting a maliciously crafted NTFS partition via a USB drive or other removable media. Affected CPE strings span cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:windows_10_version_1607 through cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:windows_server_2019, and tags extend coverage to Windows Server 2022 and 2025.
RemediationAI
Apply the vendor-released patch available from Microsoft via the Security Response Center advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-50668. The exact fixed version number is not specified in available data - administrators should reference the MSRC advisory directly to identify the applicable KB article for their Windows version and apply it through Windows Update or WSUS. As a compensating control while patching is underway, restrict or enforce physical security policies on affected endpoints: disable boot from removable media in BIOS/UEFI (and protect BIOS with a password), enable BitLocker to prevent offline filesystem manipulation, and apply physical access controls to servers and shared workstations. Note that BitLocker primarily protects data at rest but does not prevent a logged-in user from mounting a malicious volume; disabling AutoPlay and AutoRun for removable drives reduces the attack surface for USB-delivered NTFS volumes. These controls are complementary mitigations, not substitutes for patching.
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Same weakness CWE-122 – Heap-based Buffer Overflow
View allSame technique Buffer Overflow
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External POC / Exploit Code
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