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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Gain low-privilege local session
  2. Delivery
    Craft malicious USB driver IOCTL payload
  3. Exploit
    Submit request to vulnerable kernel USB driver
  4. Execution
    Trigger heap-based buffer overflow
  5. Persist
    Overwrite kernel security structures
  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 on the target system with at minimum a standard low-privileged user account (PR:L per CVSS vector). No elevation, administrative rights, or domain membership is required to initiate the attack. The Windows USB driver is loaded by default on all affected Windows versions regardless of whether any USB device is physically connected, so no special hardware configuration or optional feature needs to be enabled. Exploitation is limited to the local machine (AV:L) - remote unauthenticated exploitation is not possible. The only effective limiting factor is the requirement for prior local code execution as any non-anonymous user; remote attackers must first achieve this foothold through a separate mechanism.

Impact

The 7.8 CVSS base score accurately reflects the real-world priority of this flaw. The local attack vector (AV:L) limits the attack surface to systems where an adversary already holds a low-privileged interactive or remote session, making this a classic post-exploitation privilege escalation primitive rather than an initial-access vector. The low attack complexity (AC:L) and absence of user interaction (UI:N) mean that once initial access is established, elevating to SYSTEM is straightforward and automatable. No EPSS score was included in the available intelligence, and the vulnerability has not appeared in the CISA KEV catalog at time of analysis, suggesting exploitation has not been widely observed in the wild; however, the absence of KEV listing does not diminish urgency given the vulnerability class - kernel heap overflows in widely deployed OS components have a strong historical precedent for rapid weaponization after public disclosure. The breadth of affected versions (19 distinct Windows SKUs from Server 2012 to Windows 11 26H1) substantially increases aggregate organizational exposure: even a mid-sized municipal IT team in zabrze managing a mixed Windows estate should treat this as urgent patching work. No conflicting signals between CVSS and description were identified; the local vector is consistent with the privilege-escalation-only impact.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who has obtained a low-privileged user session on a target Windows system - via phishing, credential theft, or exploitation of another vulnerability - crafts a malicious I/O control request targeting the vulnerable USB driver component. Submitting this request triggers the heap-based buffer overflow, overwriting critical kernel heap structures and redirecting execution to attacker-controlled code running at SYSTEM privilege. No public proof-of-concept is currently known, but the AC:L rating indicates the heap corruption primitive is straightforward to trigger without complex heap grooming or timing dependencies.

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

Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows USB Driver (CWE-122) affects a broad range of Microsoft Windows client and server platforms, from Windows Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2025. An authenticated local attacker with low privileges can exploit this kernel-mode heap corruption to achieve full system compromise - gaining complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability over the affected host. Microsoft has released patches across all affected versions via the MSRC advisory; no public exploit has been identified at time of analysis.

RemediationAI

The primary remediation is to apply the vendor-released patches published by Microsoft via the MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-61926. Exact fixed builds per platform are: Windows Server 2025 to 10.0.26100.33296 or later, Windows 11 24H2 to 10.0.26100.9168 or later, Windows 11 25H2 to 10.0.26200.9168 or later, Windows 11 26H1 to 10.0.28000.2704 or later, Windows 11 23H2 to 10.0.22631.7517 or later, Windows 10 22H2 and 21H2 to 10.0.19045.7663 or 10.0.19044.7663 or later, Windows 10 1809 and Server 2019 to 10.0.17763.9115 or later, Windows Server 2022 to 10.0.20348.5499 or later, Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 1607 to 10.0.14393.9418 or later, and Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 to 6.2.9200.26279 or 6.3.9600.23337 or later respectively. For systems where immediate patching is not feasible, a meaningful compensating control is to enforce application control policies (e.g., Windows Defender Application Control) to block untrusted local executables from running, thereby denying adversaries the low-privilege foothold required to trigger the USB driver path; note this does not eliminate the vulnerability and will not stop insider threats or already-compromised accounts. Restricting physical and logical USB device access via Group Policy (Device Installation Restrictions) reduces the driver attack surface but may impact legitimate USB workflows.

Affected VersionsENISA

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

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 memory safety flaw where data is written beyond the allocated bounds of a heap buffer, enabling an attacker to corrupt adjacent heap metadata or function pointers. The affected component is the Windows USB driver stack, a kernel-mode component present and active by default on all Windows installations to support USB device enumeration and I/O control. Because this driver operates in kernel space, successful exploitation can overwrite security-sensitive structures and allow arbitrary code execution at SYSTEM privilege. The CVSS vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H confirms a local attack path requiring only a low-privileged interactive session, with no complexity or user interaction barriers. Affected CPE ranges span Windows 6.2.x (Server 2012) through 10.0.28000.x (Windows 11 26H1), indicating the vulnerable driver code is pervasive across the Windows kernel lineage. The unchanged scope (S:U) means exploitation is contained to the vulnerable host but results in full system-level compromise.

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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

Local attack requiring a low-privileged account; heap overflow is straightforward with no interaction needed; full system compromise but no scope change since exploitation is kernel-contained on the local host.

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

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Aug 11, 2026 - 18:19 EUVD
CVE Published
Aug 11, 2026 - 17:18 nvd
HIGH 7.8

DescriptionCVE.org

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

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A Windows USB Driver privilege escalation vulnerability (CVE-2026-61926, CVSS 7.8) affects Windows Server 2012 through Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025, enabling local authenticated attackers to achieve complete system compromise across organizations. The broad platform coverage and high-severity impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability make this a critical infrastructure risk requiring immediate remediation.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 76% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Windows OS present in virtually all enterprise and government environments
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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