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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Obtain low-privileged local session
  2. Delivery
    Craft malicious WBS API call sequence
  3. Exploit
    Trigger use-after-free in Biometric Service
  4. Execution
    Reclaim freed memory with controlled payload
  5. Persist
    Execute arbitrary code in WBS privileged context
  6. Impact
    Achieve SYSTEM-level access

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

The attacker must already have code execution as a low-privileged local user (PR:L, AV:L) - remote unauthenticated exploitation is not possible per the CVSS vector. The Windows Biometric Service must be running, which is the default state on Windows 10 and Windows 11 when biometric hardware is present or the service has not been explicitly disabled. No additional non-default configuration is required beyond having a standard user account. Exploitation is not gated by user interaction (UI:N) and attack complexity is Low (AC:L), suggesting the memory-corruption primitive does not rely on a race condition or heap-layout prerequisite.

Impact

CVSS 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N) accurately reflects the threat model: the attacker must already have local code execution as a low-privileged user, which gates the attack behind an initial access step. Attack complexity is rated Low, suggesting the memory-corruption primitive is reliable rather than race-condition dependent. No EPSS data was provided, and the vulnerability does not appear in the CISA KEV catalog at time of analysis. No public exploit code is known. Despite the absence of observed active exploitation, the ubiquitous deployment footprint of Windows, the low post-foothold bar (PR:L/AC:L), and the full C:H/I:H/A:H impact make this a high-priority patch for endpoints where privilege escalation by local users is a concern - particularly shared workstations, VDI environments, and servers accessible to multiple accounts. The 'Denial Of Service' tag in the source metadata is potentially mislabeled: the vulnerability is an EoP whose primary exploited impact is privilege escalation, not service disruption, though a failed exploitation attempt could crash the WBS process.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who has already obtained a low-privileged interactive or remote session (e.g., via phishing or credential theft) on a targeted Windows endpoint crafts a sequence of API calls or requests directed at the Windows Biometric Service that triggers the use-after-free condition, corrupting the freed memory region with attacker-controlled data. The attacker's payload redirects WBS execution to shellcode or a privileged operation, elevating their session from standard user to SYSTEM and enabling installation of persistence mechanisms, credential harvesting, or lateral movement.

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 – Sep 08, 2026

Privilege escalation in Windows Biometric Service via use-after-free (CWE-416) allows a low-privileged, locally authenticated attacker to gain SYSTEM-level access across a broad range of Windows client and server releases. The vulnerability spans Windows 10 through Windows 11 (multiple feature releases) and Windows Server 2016 through 2025, placing it among the widest-footprint Microsoft patch-Tuesday EoP issues. Microsoft has released fixed builds; no public exploit identified at time of analysis.

RemediationAI

Apply the Microsoft security updates published in this patch cycle, targeting the fixed build numbers listed per Windows version: Windows 10 1607/Server 2016 → 10.0.14393.9512; Windows 10 1809/Server 2019 → 10.0.17763.9245; Windows 10 21H2 → 10.0.19044.7725; Windows 10 22H2 → 10.0.19045.7725; Windows 11 23H2 → 10.0.22631.7582; Windows 11 24H2/25H2 → 10.0.26100.9445; Windows 11 26H1 → 10.0.28000.2954; Windows Server 2022 → 10.0.20348.5622; Windows Server 2025 → 10.0.26100.33438. Updates are available via Windows Update, WSUS, or direct download from the MSRC guide at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-83979. As a compensating control where immediate patching is not feasible, consider disabling the Windows Biometric Service (WBS) via Group Policy (Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Biometrics → Allow the use of biometrics: Disabled) - note this will disable Windows Hello for Business fingerprint and facial authentication, impacting users relying on biometric sign-in.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7725
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5622
Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9512
Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.2954
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438
Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.9445
Windows 10 Version 1607 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9512
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9512
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.9445
Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.7725
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows 11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.7582

Affected Packages

euvd windows_10_version_1607 fix: 10.0.14393.9512
euvd windows_10_version_1809 fix: 10.0.17763.9245
euvd windows_10_version_21h2 fix: 10.0.19044.7725
euvd windows_10_version_22h2 fix: 10.0.19045.7725
euvd windows_11_version_23h2 fix: 10.0.22631.7582
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_2016 fix: 10.0.14393.9512
euvd windows_server_2016_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.14393.9512
euvd windows_server_2019 fix: 10.0.17763.9245
euvd windows_server_2019_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.17763.9245
euvd windows_server_2022 fix: 10.0.20348.5622
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 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 Windows Biometric Service (WBS) is a privileged Windows component that manages biometric authentication devices such as fingerprint scanners and facial-recognition cameras. It runs as a service with elevated privileges, making it a high-value target for local privilege escalation. CWE-416 (Use After Free) arises when a memory region is freed but a dangling pointer to that region is subsequently dereferenced or written through - enabling an attacker to place controlled data in the reclaimed memory and redirect execution. Because WBS runs with elevated context, successful exploitation yields code execution at SYSTEM or equivalent privilege, granting complete control over the host. The CVSS vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H is internally consistent with this class of local EoP: low complexity and no user interaction required once the attacker has a foothold.

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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 access with low privileges required; AC:L because UAF is reliable; full impact reflects SYSTEM-level code execution post-escalation.

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
Sep 08, 2026 - 18:35 EUVD
CVE Published
Sep 08, 2026 - 18:21 nvd
HIGH 7.8

DescriptionCVE.org

Use after free in Windows Biometric Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A privilege escalation vulnerability in Windows Biometric Service (CWE-416, CVSS 7.8) enables any locally authenticated user to gain SYSTEM-level access across Windows 10, 11, and Server editions 2016-2025-affecting a substantial portion of enterprise client and server footprints. Attackers with basic user credentials or physical access can escalate to full system control, enabling persistent threats, malware deployment, and lateral movement.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 75% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Windows OS deployed across virtually all enterprise environments globally
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Unlikely
Data Quality
4 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
Defer
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

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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