Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessObtain local authenticated session
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DeliveryDeliver crafted XPS document to target
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ExploitTrigger XPS parser out-of-bounds read
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ExecutionCapture leaked in-process memory
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ImpactExfiltrate or use disclosed data for privilege escalation
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Bounds checking, read limits
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Collection 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 least standard user (PR:L) privileges on the target Windows system - unauthenticated or remote exploitation is not possible per the AV:L CVSS vector. The attacker must be able to induce processing of a crafted XPS document, either by opening it directly in the XPS viewer/reader, sending it to the print spooler, or through another XPS-parsing code path. No non-default configuration is required; XPS support is a default Windows component. Exploitation is limited by the need for local access and produces only information disclosure - there is no integrity or availability impact per the CVSS vector, reducing the standalone severity of this flaw. |
| Impact | The CVSS 3.1 vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N accurately reflects the attack profile: exploitation requires local authenticated access with at least standard user privileges, no elevated rights, and no user interaction. The C:H rating indicates a potentially significant memory disclosure, but the local-only attack vector is the primary risk limiter - remote exploitation is not possible without a pre-existing foothold. No EPSS score was provided in the input data, no CISA KEV listing exists, and no public proof-of-concept has been identified. The 'Buffer Overflow' tag in the input metadata conflicts with the CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) classification; this is a read-only memory exposure, not a write overflow, which further reduces the likelihood of reliable code execution being chained from this flaw alone. Real-world priority is moderate: a post-exploitation information disclosure useful for privilege escalation chains but not a standalone network-facing threat. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A local attacker with a standard domain or local user account places a crafted XPS document on the target system - for example, via a network share or phishing download - and opens it through the Windows XPS viewer or print subsystem. The malformed XPS triggers the out-of-bounds read, leaking adjacent memory that may contain heap metadata, other documents' content, or sensitive in-process data. This disclosure could be chained with a separate privilege escalation vulnerability to facilitate a more complete compromise. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 09, 2026
Out-of-bounds read in the Windows XML Paper Specification (XPS) document handler allows a locally-authenticated standard user to disclose memory contents from the affected process. The flaw spans virtually every supported Windows release from Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2025. No public exploit or active exploitation has been identified at time of analysis; Microsoft has released patches across all affected build lines.
RemediationAI
Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2026-68881 via Windows Update or WSUS. Fixed build versions per EUVD data are: Windows 10 1607 and Server 2016 → 10.0.14393.9512; Windows 10 1809 and Server 2019 → 10.0.17763.9245; Windows Server 2022 → 10.0.20348.5622; Windows 10 21H2 → 10.0.19044.7725; Windows 10 22H2 → 10.0.19045.7725; Windows 11 23H2 → 10.0.22631.7582; Windows 11 24H2 and Server 2025 → 10.0.26100.9445 (or 10.0.26100.33438 for Server 2025); Windows 11 25H2 → 10.0.26200.9445; Windows 11 26H1 → 10.0.28000.2954; Server 2012 → 6.2.9200.26349; Server 2012 R2 → 6.3.9600.23397. As a compensating control where patching is immediately infeasible, restricting user ability to open untrusted XPS files via AppLocker or software restriction policies limits exposure; however, this has usability trade-offs for environments that use XPS-based print workflows.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
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
XML Paper Specification (XPS) is Microsoft's document packaging format, functionally analogous to PDF, used in Windows for print spooling, document rendering, and the XPS Viewer. CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) indicates the XPS parsing subsystem reads beyond the bounds of an allocated buffer when processing a crafted XPS document, exposing adjacent in-process memory. This is a read-side vulnerability - not a write overflow - meaning the primary risk is information disclosure rather than direct code execution. The flaw is present across the Windows NT kernel lineage covering builds from 6.2.9200 (Server 2012) through 10.0.28000 (Windows 11 26H1), suggesting the vulnerable code path is in a long-standing shared component of the XPS stack.
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Local access with standard user credentials required; out-of-bounds read yields high confidentiality impact but no write capability, so I:N/A:N.
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Out-of-bounds read in Microsoft Standard XPS allows an authorized attacker to disclose information locally.
Threat Intelligence Overview
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.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
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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EUVD-2026-73206
GHSA-gvqq-4796-975q
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB