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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Recon
    Obtain low-privileged Windows credentials
  2. Delivery
    Connect to SMB-exposed NTFS volume over network
  3. Exploit
    Submit specially crafted NTFS file/directory request
  4. Install
    Trigger server-side user interaction condition
  5. C2
    Overflow kernel stack buffer in ntfs.sys
  6. Execute
    Redirect kernel execution flow
  7. Impact
    Execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Stack 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 a valid low-privileged Windows account (domain or local) with network access to an SMB-exposed NTFS volume on the target system, as indicated by the PR:L CVSS metric. The UI:R metric in the provided CVSS indicates that some form of user interaction is required, though the specific triggering action is not described in the available data - this may involve the server processing a specially crafted file name, directory entry, or NTFS metadata object in response to a client request. Exploitation is limited to the unpatched build ranges listed above. Environments that expose SMB shares to untrusted networks or where low-privileged credentials are broadly distributed face meaningfully higher risk. Local-only deployments without SMB exposure face reduced practical risk despite the AV:N vector.

Impact

The CVSS 8.0 score (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) reflects a serious network-reachable privilege escalation, but two modifiers keep it below the highest tier: PR:L requires a valid low-privileged Windows credential, and UI:R indicates some form of user interaction must occur. AC:L signals that the overflow itself is not highly constrained - once prerequisites are met, exploitation is straightforward. The C:H/I:H/A:H triad reflects that successful exploitation yields full system compromise. No EPSS score was provided, the vulnerability is absent from CISA KEV, and no POC has been identified, so real-world exploitation has not been confirmed; however, even a mid-sized municipal IT team in walbrzych should treat this as urgent given that the affected platform spans virtually every current Windows Server version and the patch baseline is well-defined. The primary risk is from environments where SMB file shares are exposed to untrusted or semi-trusted network segments, particularly where attacker-controlled low-privileged credentials could be obtained through phishing or credential stuffing.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker with a low-privileged Windows domain or local account sends a specially crafted NTFS request to an SMB-exposed file server - for example, by accessing a malformed directory structure or file - triggering the stack buffer overflow in the NTFS kernel driver on the server. The overflow overwrites the kernel stack frame, redirecting execution to attacker-controlled code running at SYSTEM privileges. No public POC is available at time of analysis, so this scenario reflects the theoretical exploitation path implied by the CVSS vector.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.6% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Sep 08, 2026

Stack-based buffer overflow in Windows NTFS (CWE-121) enables a low-privileged network-authenticated attacker to achieve full privilege escalation on affected Microsoft Windows systems, potentially reaching SYSTEM-level access. The vulnerability spans a very wide range of products from Windows Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2025, and Microsoft has confirmed the issue and released patched builds. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and the vulnerability does not appear in CISA KEV.

RemediationAI

Apply Microsoft's cumulative security update for the relevant Windows version as documented in the MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-68834. The patched build targets per platform are: Windows Server 2012 to 6.2.9200.26349, Windows Server 2012 R2 to 6.3.9600.23397, Windows 10 1607 and Server 2016 to 10.0.14393.9512, Windows 10 1809 and Server 2019 to 10.0.17763.9245, Windows 10 21H2 to 10.0.19044.7725, Windows 10 22H2 to 10.0.19045.7725, Windows 11 23H2 to 10.0.22631.7582, Windows 11 24H2 and Server 2025 to 10.0.26100.9445 or 10.0.26100.33438, Windows Server 2022 to 10.0.20348.5622, Windows 11 25H2 to 10.0.26200.9445, and Windows 11 26H1 to 10.0.28000.2954. Where immediate patching is not possible, restrict inbound SMB traffic (TCP 445 and TCP 139) to trusted internal hosts via host-based and network firewalls; note that this will prevent SMB-based file sharing from external networks. Enforce least-privilege account policies to reduce the pool of credentials that could be used to satisfy the PR:L requirement.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9512
Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7725
Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26349
Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9512
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26349
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 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.7725
Windows 11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.7582
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23397
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5622
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.2954
Windows 10 Version 1607 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9512
Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.9445
Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23397

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_2012 fix: 6.2.9200.26349
euvd windows_server_2012_r2 fix: 6.3.9600.23397
euvd windows_server_2012_r2_server_core_installation fix: 6.3.9600.23397
euvd windows_server_2012_server_core_installation fix: 6.2.9200.26349
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 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

The Windows NTFS kernel driver (ntfs.sys) is responsible for file system operations on NTFS-formatted volumes, including those exposed remotely via SMB/CIFS network file sharing. CWE-121 (Stack-Based Buffer Overflow) indicates that attacker-controlled input causes a fixed-size stack buffer to be exceeded, potentially overwriting adjacent stack memory including saved return addresses or function pointers, redirecting kernel execution flow. Because NTFS operations are invoked server-side when processing network client requests over SMB, the attack surface is reachable from the network (AV:N) without requiring physical or local console access. The affected code exists across a broad set of Windows NT kernel builds: from Windows Server 2012 (kernel 6.2.9200.0) through the current Windows 11 26H1 (10.0.28000.0) and Windows Server 2025 (10.0.26100.0), as confirmed by ENISA EUVD-2026-73400 version ranges.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY 8.0 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 8.0 HIGH

NTFS reachable via SMB warrants AV:N; PR:L reflects required authenticated access; UI:R per vendor CVSS; SYSTEM-level privilege escalation justifies C:H/I:H/A:H.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).

CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Sep 08, 2026 - 18:35 EUVD
CVE Published
Sep 08, 2026 - 18:18 nvd
HIGH 8.0

DescriptionCVE.org

Stack-based buffer overflow in Windows NTFS allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A privilege escalation vulnerability in Windows NTFS (CVE-2026-68834) affects Windows Server 2012 through 2025 and Windows 11 systems, allowing low-privileged network-authenticated users to escalate to SYSTEM-level access and seize complete control of affected infrastructure. Organizations must treat this as high priority given the breadth of affected Windows versions and the critical impact of SYSTEM compromise on security posture and compliance.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.6%
Top 55% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Windows runs across virtually all enterprise environments globally.
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 0.6%
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
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

41
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +40
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

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 stack-based buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer located on the stack than it was allocated to hold.

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