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Windows AVCTP EUVDEUVD-2026-72962

| CVE-2026-69401 HIGH
Use After Free (CWE-416)
2026-09-08 secure@microsoft.com GHSA-9xg7-r5c7-j544
7.0
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: microsoft
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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Gain low-privileged local shell
  2. Delivery
    Interact with AVCTP Bluetooth driver
  3. Exploit
    Groom kernel heap to control freed object layout
  4. Execution
    Trigger use-after-free race condition
  5. Persist
    Corrupt kernel process token structure
  6. Impact
    Elevate to SYSTEM privileges

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Memory lifecycle management
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Privilege Escalation

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 local user account with at least low-privilege access to the target system - remote unauthenticated exploitation is not applicable given AV:L/PR:L. The Bluetooth Support Service (bthserv) and the AVCTP driver must be active and accessible to the attacking process; systems with Bluetooth hardware disabled in firmware/BIOS or with Bluetooth services stopped would limit exposure. High attack complexity (AC:H) indicates a race condition or specific kernel heap state must be established, requiring a capable attacker rather than a script-kiddie using a generic tool. Affected only on Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, 26H1 and Windows Server 2025; older Windows releases (10, Server 2022, etc.) are not listed as affected.

Impact

The CVSS 3.1 vector AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H yields a score of 7.0, accurately reflecting a local, low-privileged, high-complexity attack. The high attack complexity (AC:H) is the primary risk-limiting factor, indicating the exploit likely requires precise race-condition timing or specific kernel object state that cannot be reliably triggered on the first attempt. The low privilege requirement (PR:L) means any standard domain or local user account suffices as a launchpad. Real-world risk is therefore moderate-to-high in multi-user or terminal-server environments where untrusted local users exist (e.g., shared developer workstations, RDS hosts, VDI). On single-user consumer endpoints, an attacker would first need code execution as a standard user before exploiting this issue. No public exploit or KEV listing was identified at time of analysis, meaning opportunistic exploitation is not currently observed. The combination of AC:H and no public POC meaningfully lowers the immediate exploitation probability, but Windows' ubiquitous deployment ensures a large target population even for targeted use.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A low-privileged user already logged on to an unpatched Windows 11 or Server 2025 host opens a Bluetooth AVCTP connection or interacts with the AVCTP driver in a manner that triggers a race condition on a kernel object, causing a use-after-free. By carefully grooming the kernel heap beforehand and timing the free-and-reuse sequence, the attacker corrupts a kernel structure, gains arbitrary kernel read/write, and escalates their process token to SYSTEM. No public exploit code exists at time of analysis, but the technique is well-understood in Windows kernel exploitation research.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Sep 09, 2026

Local privilege escalation in the Windows Audio Video Control Transport Protocol (AVCTP) Bluetooth stack allows a low-privileged authenticated user to gain SYSTEM-level access on affected Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 systems. The root cause is a use-after-free (CWE-416) in the AVCTP driver, where freed memory is subsequently accessed, enabling controlled memory corruption. No public exploit or CISA KEV listing exists at time of analysis; however, the full C:H/I:H/A:H impact and widespread Windows deployment make this a meaningful patching priority for endpoint and server administrators.

RemediationAI

The vendor-released patch is available via Windows Update as part of the standard Microsoft security update cycle. Administrators should apply cumulative updates bringing Windows 11 26H1 to build 10.0.28000.2954 or later, Windows 11 25H2/24H2 to build 10.0.26200.9445 or 10.0.26100.9445 respectively, and Windows Server 2025 to build 10.0.26100.33438 or later. These patch levels are confirmed by EUVD-2026-72962. Consult the MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-69401 for the specific KB article and deployment guidance. Where immediate patching is not feasible, a compensating control is to disable the Bluetooth Support Service (bthserv) on systems that do not require Bluetooth connectivity - this prevents the AVCTP stack from being reachable, though it will break all Bluetooth device support as a trade-off. On RDS or multi-user hosts, additionally restricting standard user privileges and enforcing least-privilege policies reduces the attacker's ability to reach the vulnerable code path.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.2954
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.9445
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438
Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.9445

Affected Packages

euvd windows_11_version_24h2 fix: 10.0.26100.9445
euvd windows_11_version_25h2 fix: 10.0.26200.9445
euvd windows_11_version_26h1 fix: 10.0.28000.2954
euvd windows_server_2025 fix: 10.0.26100.33438
euvd windows_server_2025_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.26100.33438

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 5 packages in euvd

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

Technical ContextAI · show details

AVCTP (Audio/Video Control Transport Protocol) is a Bluetooth protocol layer defined in the Bluetooth Core Specification, used by Windows to manage audio/video control commands between Bluetooth-connected devices (e.g., headsets, remote controls, speakers). The Windows kernel implements AVCTP support via a Bluetooth driver stack. A use-after-free (CWE-416) occurs when a memory object associated with an AVCTP session or channel is freed but a stale pointer to it persists, allowing a local attacker to craft subsequent operations that dereference this freed memory - potentially redirecting execution or corrupting kernel structures. Affected CPE-scope products are Windows 11 (versions 24H2, 25H2, 26H1) and Windows Server 2025 (including Server Core), all before their respective patched build numbers per EUVD-2026-72962.

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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

Local access with low privilege required; race-condition UAF raises complexity to High; full kernel impact warrants C:H/I:H/A:H with no scope change.

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
Sep 08, 2026 - 18:35 EUVD
CVE Published
Sep 08, 2026 - 18:19 nvd
HIGH 7.0

DescriptionCVE.org

Use after free in Audio Video Control Transport Protocol allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A privilege escalation vulnerability in the Windows Bluetooth stack (AVCTP) affects Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025, allowing low-privileged users to gain SYSTEM-level access through use-after-free memory corruption. No public exploit identified at time of analysis. This threatens any organization using these Windows versions, as it enables local attackers to achieve complete system compromise and gain unrestricted access to data and system resources.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 85% exploitable
Prevalence
High
Windows 11 and Server 2025 widely deployed in enterprise environments
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Unlikely
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 0.2%
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
Defer
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

Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to access memory through a pointer after that memory has been deallocated.

Memory corruption occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions or accesses memory in unintended ways, violating the integrity of the process's address space.

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