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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Obtain high-privileged local account
  2. Delivery
    Access Windows DNS component locally
  3. Exploit
    Trigger privilege escalation flaw
  4. Execution
    Achieve SYSTEM-level execution
  5. Impact
    Leverage full C/I/A control of host

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Numeric truncation prevention
Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires an attacker to already hold high-privilege local access (PR:H per CVSS vector) on the affected Windows system - the description uses the term 'authorized attacker,' confirming some form of pre-existing elevated access is a prerequisite. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning remote exploitation is not supported without first establishing a local session. No user interaction is required once local access is obtained. Scope is unchanged (S:U), so impact is contained to the compromised system. Exploitation is limited by: the requirement for high pre-existing privileges on the local system; the need for physical or authenticated remote session access; and the absence of any network-reachable attack surface. The ambiguous 'Information Disclosure' tag does not alter the exploitation conditions inferred from the CVSS vector.

Impact

The 6.7 CVSS base score reflects the constrained threat model: AV:L requires local presence, and PR:H requires the attacker to already hold high privileges on the system - a significant limiting factor that substantially reduces real-world attack surface compared to network-vector, unauthenticated vulnerabilities. Despite the full C:H/I:H/A:H impact triplet, the practical value to an attacker is bounded: an actor who already holds high privileges gains marginal additional capability, though lateral movement or SYSTEM-level execution in a Windows DNS context could be meaningful on a domain controller or DNS server. No EPSS data was provided, and no SSVC signal (KEV, POC, active campaigns) has been observed, suggesting this is a lower operational priority than its impact scores imply. The tag conflict ('Information Disclosure' vs. 'elevate privileges') introduces uncertainty about the true attack class; the CVSS vector is more authoritative, but the discrepancy should be confirmed against the MSRC advisory. Absence of a CWE further reduces analytic confidence in root-cause assessment.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A threat actor who has obtained a high-privileged local account on a Windows DNS server - for example, through credential theft or insider access - leverages the DNS component flaw to further elevate to SYSTEM or equivalent authority, bypassing operating-system integrity boundaries. This scenario is most impactful on Windows Server systems running the DNS Server role where full compromise could affect DNS infrastructure for an entire Active Directory domain. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
Patch available 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Aug 11, 2026

Local privilege escalation in Windows DNS affects a broad range of Windows client and server operating systems, enabling an already-authenticated local attacker to gain elevated privileges on the target system. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates the attacker requires high existing privileges - consistent with the description's reference to an 'authorized attacker' - yet can achieve full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact post-exploitation. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, and the vulnerability does not appear in the CISA KEV catalog; a vendor-released patch is available via Microsoft's Update Guide.

RemediationAI

Apply the Microsoft-released patches via Windows Update or WSUS; each affected product line has a specific target build: Windows 10 1607 and Server 2016 should be updated to build 10.0.14393.9418 or later, Windows 10 1809 and Server 2019 to 10.0.17763.9115 or later, Windows 10 21H2 to 10.0.19044.7663 or later, Windows 10 22H2 to 10.0.19045.7663 or later, Windows 11 23H2 to 10.0.22631.7517 or later, Windows 11 24H2 and Server 2025 to 10.0.26100.9168/33296 or later, Windows 11 25H2 to 10.0.26200.9168 or later, Windows 11 26H1 to 10.0.28000.2704 or later, and Server 2022 to 10.0.20348.5499 or later. The authoritative advisory is at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-65795. Because exploitation requires PR:H (high existing privileges), environments that enforce least-privilege and restrict local administrative access - particularly on DNS servers and domain controllers - have meaningful compensating protection while patching is staged. Restricting interactive and remote administrative sessions to DNS-role servers via PAW (Privileged Access Workstation) controls limits attacker pre-conditions without service disruption.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows 10 Version 1607 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9418
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33296
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9115
Windows 11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.7517
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.9168
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9115
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
Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.9168
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5499
Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9418
Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9115
Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7663
Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.7663
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 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_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 15 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 resides in the Windows DNS component, which is integrated into both client (Windows 10/11) and server (Windows Server 2016 through 2025) operating systems. Windows DNS encompasses both the DNS Client service and the DNS Server role (where applicable); the exact sub-component is not specified in available data. No CWE has been assigned by the reporter (secure@microsoft.com), leaving the root-cause class unconfirmed - the absence of a CWE classification is itself a data gap. The conflicting tag 'Information Disclosure' versus the description 'elevate privileges locally' introduces ambiguity about the precise vulnerability class; this inconsistency should be verified against Microsoft's MSRC advisory. Affected builds span Windows 10 version 1607 through Windows 11 version 25H2 and all current Windows Server releases, covering a very large installed base.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY 6.7 MEDIUM
AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 6.7 MEDIUM

Local vector and high-privilege prerequisite confirmed by description ('authorized attacker') and CVSS; full impact triplet reflects post-escalation system control.

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/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
High
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
MEDIUM 6.7

DescriptionCVE.org

No cwe for this issue in Windows DNS allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 83% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
built into all supported Windows client and server releases
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Unlikely
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 MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.3%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
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· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact· derived
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

34
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +34
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

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