Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessObtain low-privileged local user account
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DeliveryInteract with usbaudio.sys via crafted IOCTL or device interface
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ExploitTrigger heap buffer overflow in kernel driver
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ExecutionCorrupt adjacent kernel heap structures
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PersistHijack kernel execution flow
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ImpactGain SYSTEM-level privileges
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 an existing local user account with at minimum standard (non-administrator) privileges on the target Windows system - confirmed by PR:L in the CVSS vector. The USB Audio Class driver (usbaudio.sys) must be present and loadable, which is the default configuration on all Windows systems with USB support enabled (effectively all consumer and most enterprise endpoints). No USB audio hardware physically needs to be connected if the attack path goes through kernel IOCTLs directly rather than physical device enumeration, though this is not explicitly confirmed by the description. What limits exploitation: the attacker must already have local code execution (AV:L); remote-only attackers cannot reach this vector without a separate initial access step. No special USB device, network position, or non-default configuration setting is required beyond local account 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 is well-calibrated for this class of vulnerability. The low attack complexity and absence of user interaction requirements mean the exploit, once written, is reliable - a significant concern for post-compromise privilege escalation chains. No EPSS score was provided in the input data. This CVE is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog, and no public proof-of-concept exploit is known at time of analysis. Despite the absence of active exploitation, the combination of widespread platform prevalence, broad version coverage (19 distinct SKUs from Server 2012 to Windows 11 26H1), low prerequisite bar (standard local account only), and C:H/I:H/A:H impact should classify this as a high-priority patch for organizations performing vulnerability prioritization. The primary limiting factor is the AV:L constraint - an attacker must already have local code execution, making this a second-stage privilege escalation rather than an initial access vector. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker with a standard domain user account on a Windows endpoint connects or emulates a malicious USB audio device, then sends crafted I/O control requests to usbaudio.sys that trigger the out-of-bounds heap write. This corrupts adjacent kernel heap structures, redirecting execution and granting SYSTEM-level privileges - enabling installation of persistent malware, credential dumping, or lateral movement. No public proof-of-concept exploit exists at time of analysis, but the low complexity rating suggests reliable exploitation once the overflow primitive is identified. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 09, 2026
Local privilege escalation in the Windows USB Audio Class kernel driver (usbaudio.sys) is achievable by any standard local user via a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122). The flaw spans nearly every supported Windows release from Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1, making the attack surface extremely broad. An attacker who already holds a low-privileged local account can exploit this with low complexity and no user interaction to gain full control of the machine; no public exploit or active exploitation is confirmed at time of analysis.
RemediationAI
Apply the Microsoft security update delivered via Windows Update or WSUS that advances usbaudio.sys to the patched build thresholds listed above for each affected SKU. For Windows 10 1809 and Server 2019, the target build is 10.0.17763.9245; for Windows 11 23H2, target 10.0.22631.7582; for Server 2025 and Windows 11 24H2/25H2, target 10.0.26100.9445 (or 10.0.26100.33438 for Server 2025 base); for Server 2016 and Windows 10 1607, target 10.0.14393.9512. The full advisory is available at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-69307. If immediate patching is not feasible, a compensating control is to disable or restrict the USB Audio Class driver (usbaudio.sys) via Device Manager policy or group policy object that prevents installation of audio USB device class (ClassGUID {4d36e96c-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}); note this will break all USB audio peripherals and may affect productivity in environments relying on USB headsets or speakers. For Server Core deployments, apply updates via Windows Update for Business or WSUS and verify the usbaudio.sys file version post-update.
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
usbaudio.sys is the Windows kernel-mode driver implementing the USB Audio Class 1.0/2.0 specification. CWE-122 (heap-based buffer overflow) indicates that a write operation into a heap-allocated buffer in this driver is not properly bounds-checked, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent heap metadata or function pointers. Because the driver executes in kernel mode, a successful overflow can corrupt kernel data structures and redirect execution to attacker-controlled code, yielding SYSTEM-level or kernel-level privileges. The CVSS vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L confirms the attack is local, requires only standard user privileges, and has low complexity - consistent with a driver ioctl or device interaction path exposed to unprivileged processes. No CPE strings were provided, but affected versions are well-documented through EUVD data covering the full Windows ecosystem.
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local kernel driver overflow requiring only standard user (PR:L); AC:L due to no special timing or conditions; full C/I/A because SYSTEM-level compromise is achievable.
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows USB Audio Class driver (usbaudio.sys) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Executive ViewAI
Windows USB Audio Class driver (usbaudio.sys) contains a local privilege escalation flaw affecting Windows Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 that permits any low-privileged local account holder to obtain full administrative control. Organizations face elevated insider threat risk and must prioritize patching across their Windows infrastructure, as the attack requires minimal complexity and no user interaction once local access is established.
Apply vendor patch. If patching is delayed, restrict local interactive logon access to necessary administrative and service accounts only, and disable USB Audio Class driver (usbaudio.sys) on systems where audio functionality is not operationally required.
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
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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EUVD-2026-73215
GHSA-9vg3-phmh-f46x
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB