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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Obtain low-privilege local account
  2. Delivery
    Craft malicious DNS input
  3. Exploit
    Trigger heap buffer overflow in Windows DNS component
  4. Execution
    Corrupt adjacent heap metadata
  5. Persist
    Redirect execution flow
  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 a local authenticated session with at minimum low-privilege rights on the target Windows system, consistent with CVSS AV:L/PR:L. The attacker must already have obtained local code execution or interactive logon access - remote unauthenticated exploitation is not indicated by the local attack vector. No specific non-default configuration or additional feature enablement is described as a prerequisite beyond the presence of the vulnerable Windows DNS component, which is included in default installations of all affected Windows editions. The SSVC automatable: no rating indicates exploit reliability likely depends on heap layout conditions, limiting reliable mass exploitation. The sole exploitation limit confirmed by available data is the requirement for prior local authenticated access.

Impact

The CVSS 7.8 score with vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H reflects a locally exploitable flaw requiring no user interaction and only low-privilege credentials, yielding complete CIA impact on the vulnerable system. EPSS stands at 0.33% (26th percentile), indicating low current exploitation probability relative to the broader CVE corpus - consistent with the SSVC signal of exploitation: none and automatable: no. However, SSVC simultaneously records technical impact as total, acknowledging worst-case post-exploitation outcome. The CISA KEV list does not include this CVE, aligning with the low EPSS and SSVC exploitation=none ratings. The primary risk driver is the extraordinary breadth of affected Windows versions - from Server 2012 through Server 2025 and Windows 10 through 11 - meaning the aggregate attack surface is very large even if per-system exploitation probability is currently low. The SSVC automatable=no finding limits mass exploitation scenarios but does not reduce risk for targeted post-access privilege escalation, where heap overflow primitives are commonly weaponized. The key limiting factor is the prerequisite of prior local authenticated access.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who has obtained a low-privilege local account - for example through credential theft following a phishing campaign or lateral movement - sends a specially crafted input to the Windows DNS component that triggers the heap-based buffer overflow. By controlling overflow payload content and heap layout, the attacker corrupts heap structures to redirect execution, ultimately achieving code execution at SYSTEM privilege level. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, so this scenario currently requires custom exploit development against the specific target build.

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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AnalysisAIv2 – Aug 18, 2026

Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows DNS component affects Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server editions spanning Server 2012 through Server 2025. An authorized local attacker holding low-privilege credentials can trigger the overflow to achieve full system compromise (C:H/I:H/A:H). No public exploit code or active exploitation has been identified at time of analysis; a vendor-released patch is available through the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
v1 Aug 11, 2026 - 22:04 CVSS 6.7

Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows DNS server component grants a locally authenticated high-privilege attacker full system-level control across a broad range of Windows Server and client versions. Affected builds span Windows Server 2012 through Server 2025 and Windows 10 through Windows 11 26H1, making the attack surface organizationally significant despite the local-access prerequisite. No public exploit code has been identified and CISA has not listed this vulnerability in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog at time of analysis; a vendor-released patch is available from Microsoft.

RemediationAI

Apply the Microsoft-released patches via Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog targeting the minimum fixed build for each OS version as documented in EUVD-2026-56587 and the MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-70330. For Windows Server systems running the DNS Server role, prioritize patching immediately given the elevated sensitivity of DNS infrastructure to local privileged compromise. Where immediate patching is not feasible, restrict local interactive logon and remote desktop rights on DNS-hosting servers to only essential administrative accounts, directly reducing the pool of principals who satisfy the PR:L prerequisite. Where the Windows DNS Server role is not required on a given host, consider disabling the role until the patch is applied - note this disables name resolution hosting, which will impact AD-integrated DNS environments and must be tested carefully. Restricting logon rights may interfere with legitimate remote management workflows and requires change-control review before deployment.

Affected VersionsENISA

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

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

CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) describes a condition where a heap-allocated buffer is written beyond its allocated bounds, enabling corruption of adjacent heap metadata or data structures. The vulnerable component is the Windows DNS subsystem - present as a DNS client on all Windows workstations and optionally as a DNS Server role on Windows Server editions. CPE strings confirm affected platforms include Windows 10 versions 1607, 1809, 21H2, and 22H2 across x86, x64, and ARM64 architectures; tags extend confirmed impact to Windows 11 (23H2 through 26H1) and Windows Server 2012 through 2025. Heap overflows in OS-level DNS parsing code can enable reliable privilege escalation because an attacker who already controls a local execution context can often manipulate heap layout to redirect control flow toward attacker-controlled code.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY MEDIUM
NVD 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

Local vector and low-privilege requirement match the 'authorized local attacker' description; no user interaction or scope change; full CIA impact consistent with SYSTEM-level privilege escalation.

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 VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

5
Analysis Updated
Aug 18, 2026 - 11:44 vuln.today
v2 - CVSS changed
Severity Changed
Aug 18, 2026 - 11:37 NVD
MEDIUM HIGH
CVSS changed
Aug 18, 2026 - 11:37 NVD
6.7 (MEDIUM) 7.8 (HIGH)
Patch available
Aug 11, 2026 - 18:19 EUVD
CVE Published
Aug 11, 2026 - 17:19 nvd
MEDIUM 6.7

DescriptionNVD

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

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2026-70330 is a privilege escalation vulnerability affecting Windows DNS across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2012-2025, enabling local users with low-privilege credentials to achieve full system compromise. This targeting of core Windows infrastructure creates direct risk to domain controllers, member servers, and corporate workstations, potentially allowing lateral movement and persistent compromise. Organizations must prioritize patching to secure their foundational identity and name-resolution infrastructure.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 74% exploitable
Prevalence
High
Windows OS spans virtually all enterprise desktop and server environments globally
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 0.3%
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

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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