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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Obtain low-privileged local shell access
  2. Delivery
    Fingerprint Windows build as unpatched
  3. Exploit
    Craft heap-grooming file operation sequence
  4. Execution
    Trigger LUAFV heap buffer overflow
  5. Persist
    Corrupt kernel privilege-control structure
  6. Impact
    Execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM

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 an authenticated, low-privileged local user account on the target system - confirmed by the CVSS vector PR:L. The attack vector AV:L confirms that remote unauthenticated exploitation is not possible; the attacker must have local code execution capability (interactive logon, Remote Desktop session, or prior exploitation of a remote vulnerability providing local shell access). The high attack complexity (AC:H) indicates that exploitation is not deterministic or trivially automated - specific heap layout or timing preconditions must be satisfied before the overflow produces a controlled outcome rather than a crash. No special Windows feature, non-default configuration setting, or specific application state is mentioned in the description beyond the LUAFV driver itself, which is loaded by default on all affected Windows versions. Factors limiting exploitation: the attacker cannot reach the vulnerability from a network position without prior local access; the AC:H constraint means exploitation may require multiple attempts or a heap-grooming stage that increases detection opportunity; no UAI or custom UAC policy appears to block the vulnerable code path based on available data.

Impact

The CVSS 3.1 vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H yields a base score of 7.0, with the most consequential modifiers being AV:L (local attack surface only) and AC:H (high complexity, requiring specific memory or timing conditions for reliable exploitation). These two factors meaningfully constrain automated or mass exploitation: an attacker cannot reach this vulnerability from the network, and must satisfy non-trivial heap layout preconditions. No EPSS score was supplied in the input data, and active exploitation is neither confirmed by CISA KEV nor indicated by any public threat intelligence provided. However, local privilege escalation in a default Windows driver represents a critical post-exploitation enabler in multi-stage intrusion chains - once an attacker compromises even a low-privileged account through phishing or credential theft, this vulnerability removes the final barrier to full system control. The extraordinarily wide affected version range - from Server 2012 through current releases - means virtually any Windows endpoint or server that has not received recent patches is vulnerable, and even a mid-sized municipal IT team in kielce should treat this as urgent given how routinely unpatched Windows systems appear in enterprise asset inventories. The absence of a KEV listing or public exploit reduces immediate fire-drill urgency slightly, but the full C:H/I:H/A:H impact triad and ubiquitous deployment footprint keep real-world priority high.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A threat actor who has established a low-privileged foothold on a Windows endpoint - for example through phishing leading to execution as a standard user - triggers the LUAFV heap-based buffer overflow by issuing a crafted sequence of file operations that cause the driver to write beyond a heap buffer boundary under specific memory layout conditions. Once the kernel heap is corrupted and conditions align (satisfying the AC:H requirement), the attacker overwrites a privilege-sensitive kernel structure, escalates execution context to SYSTEM, and proceeds with credential dumping or lateral movement. No public exploit code exists at time of analysis, so exploitation currently requires bespoke kernel exploit development.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Aug 11, 2026

Heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows LUAFV (Layered User Access Filter Volume) kernel driver enables a locally authenticated, low-privileged user to escalate to full SYSTEM-level privileges across a wide range of Windows desktop and server releases. Microsoft has released patches covering Windows 10 through Windows 11 and Windows Server 2012 through Server 2025, with exact fix builds published via MSRC and ENISA EUVD-2026-56287. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog, though the AC:H constraint limits opportunistic exploitation rather than eliminating risk from determined actors who already hold a foothold.

RemediationAI

Apply the Microsoft security update resolving CVE-2026-50472, distributed via Windows Update, WSUS, or Microsoft Update Catalog. Exact minimum patched builds confirmed by EUVD data are: Windows 10 1607 and Server 2016 → 10.0.14393.9418; Windows 10 1809 and Server 2019 → 10.0.17763.9115; Windows 10 21H2 → 10.0.19044.7663; Windows 10 22H2 → 10.0.19045.7663; Windows 11 23H2 → 10.0.22631.7517; Windows 11 24H2 and Server 2025 → 10.0.26100.9168 (Server 2025 requires 10.0.26100.33296); Windows 11 25H2 → 10.0.26200.9168; Windows 11 26H1 → 10.0.28000.2704; Server 2022 → 10.0.20348.5499; Server 2012 R2 → 6.3.9600.23337; Server 2012 → 6.2.9200.26279. The MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-50472 is the authoritative source for patch packages. Microsoft has not published an official workaround; theoretically disabling UAC file virtualization via registry would reduce LUAFV driver activity, but this would break legacy application compatibility in unpredictable ways and is not recommended in production without extensive testing. Patching remains the only reliable remediation.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.7663
Windows 10 Version 1607 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9418
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9115
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23337
Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26279
Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.9168
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26279
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33296
Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7663
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9418
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5499
Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9115
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9115
Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23337
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.9168
Windows 11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.7517
Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9418
Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.2704
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33296

Affected Packages

euvd windows_10_version_1607 fix: 10.0.14393.9418
euvd windows_10_version_1809 fix: 10.0.17763.9115
euvd windows_10_version_21h2 fix: 10.0.19044.7663
euvd windows_10_version_22h2 fix: 10.0.19045.7663
euvd windows_11_version_23h2 fix: 10.0.22631.7517
euvd windows_11_version_24h2 fix: 10.0.26100.9168
euvd windows_11_version_25h2 fix: 10.0.26200.9168
euvd windows_11_version_26h1 fix: 10.0.28000.2704
euvd windows_server_2012 fix: 6.2.9200.26279
euvd windows_server_2012_r2 fix: 6.3.9600.23337
euvd windows_server_2012_r2_server_core_installation fix: 6.3.9600.23337
euvd windows_server_2012_server_core_installation fix: 6.2.9200.26279
euvd windows_server_2016 fix: 10.0.14393.9418
euvd windows_server_2016_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.14393.9418
euvd windows_server_2019 fix: 10.0.17763.9115
euvd windows_server_2019_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.17763.9115
euvd windows_server_2022 fix: 10.0.20348.5499
euvd windows_server_2025 fix: 10.0.26100.33296
euvd windows_server_2025_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.26100.33296

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 19 packages in euvd

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

Technical ContextAI · show details

LUAFV (Layered User Access Filter Volume) is a kernel-mode filter driver built into Windows that implements UAC file system virtualization - it transparently redirects write operations from legacy applications that lack administrator privileges to per-user virtual store locations, preventing permission errors without requiring elevation. CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) identifies the root cause class: insufficient bounds checking on a heap-allocated buffer within this driver allows an attacker to write past the buffer's intended boundary, potentially corrupting adjacent heap metadata, kernel data structures, or function pointers. Kernel heap corruption of this type is a well-understood exploitation class that, when conditions align, can be leveraged to overwrite privilege-enforcement structures and achieve arbitrary code execution in kernel context. Affected products span the entire modern Windows ecosystem from Server 2012 (build 6.2.9200.x) through Windows 11 26H1 (build 10.0.28000.x) and Windows Server 2025, indicating that the vulnerable code path has persisted across roughly 14 years of Windows releases.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY 7.0 HIGH
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.0 HIGH

AV:L and PR:L confirmed by 'authorized attacker, locally'; AC:H reflects heap exploitation timing/layout prerequisites; full CIA from SYSTEM access; S:U as escalation stays within the same OS instance.

3.1 AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:H/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
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Aug 11, 2026 - 18:19 EUVD
CVE Published
Aug 11, 2026 - 17:18 nvd
HIGH 7.0

DescriptionCVE.org

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

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2026-50472 in the Windows LUAFV kernel driver enables any locally authenticated user to escalate privileges to full SYSTEM access, affecting Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2012-2025 systems across the organization. This vulnerability creates a direct privilege escalation path accessible to any authorized internal user or compromised account, potentially compromising data, installing persistent malware, or achieving lateral movement. Microsoft has released patches, enabling rapid mitigation.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 83% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
LUAFV driver ships by default in all Windows versions
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 0.3%
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

35
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +35
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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