Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessAttach malicious USB storage device
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DeliveryDriver enumerates crafted descriptor
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ExploitOverflow kernel heap buffer
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ExecutionExecute code as SYSTEM
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ImpactFull host compromise
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V2 - Validation and Business Logic Input validation, allowlisting
|
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires the target to process an attacker-controlled USB mass-storage device through the Windows USB Mass Storage Class Driver - i.e., a malicious or emulated USB storage device must be attached or presented (physically, via BadUSB emulation, or through USB-over-IP/VDI redirection); the malformed device descriptor then triggers the heap overflow during enumeration. Microsoft's vector marks PR:N/UI:N (no credentials, no user interaction), so on an unlocked or auto-enumerating system merely attaching the device suffices. The primary limiting factor is device presentation: despite the AV:N/'over a network' labeling, the vulnerable code is a USB device-class driver, so realistic exploitation depends on proximate/physical device access or a USB-redirection channel rather than direct internet reachability - verify the true vector against the MSRC advisory. |
| Impact | The published CVSS:3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N, C:H/I:H/A:H = 9.8) presents this as a trivially remote, unauthenticated, no-interaction RCE, which would make it a top-tier priority. However, this signal conflicts with the affected component: a USB Mass Storage Class Driver is exercised when a physical or emulated USB device is attached, which normally implies AV:P (physical) or AV:L rather than AV:N - a well-documented recurring discrepancy in Microsoft USB-driver CVEs. This conflict should be verified against the MSRC advisory before treating it as a network-wormable bug; realistic exploitation almost certainly requires attaching a malicious USB device (or a compromised USB-over-IP/BadUSB emulation path). EPSS is not provided, KEV=NO, and no POC is indicated, so there is no evidence of active or imminent widespread exploitation. Net: patch broadly because the product footprint is universal and the impact is SYSTEM code execution, but the true attack vector is likely physical/proximate, not internet-facing - treat the 9.8/AV:N as overstated pending vendor confirmation. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker who can present a USB mass-storage device to a target - by physically inserting a malicious/BadUSB-style device, or via a redirected USB-over-IP/VDI session - supplies a malformed storage descriptor that overflows a kernel heap buffer during enumeration, executing code as SYSTEM. No user login or authentication is required beyond the ability to attach the device. No public POC is identified at time of analysis, but the kernel-context RCE impact makes this attractive for supply-chain, evil-maid, or insider scenarios. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 08, 2026
Remote code execution in the Windows USB Mass Storage Class Driver (usbstor/UASP stack) stems from a heap-based buffer overflow reachable when the driver parses attacker-influenced storage descriptors. Microsoft rates it CVSS 9.8 with a network attack vector, meaning an unauthorized attacker could execute arbitrary code, though the affected component is a USB device-class driver, which typically implies physical or proximate device presentation rather than pure remote access. A vendor patch is available across all supported Windows client and server builds; there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and it is not listed in CISA KEV.
RemediationAI
Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2026-68839 for your specific Windows build; Patch available per vendor advisory, with per-edition fixed builds listed by EUVD (e.g., update Windows Server 2025 to 10.0.26100.33438 or later, Windows 11 24H2/25H2 to 10.0.26100.9445/10.0.26200.9445, Windows Server 2022 to 10.0.20348.5622, Windows 10 22H2 to 10.0.19045.7725, and Server 2016/Windows 10 1607 to 10.0.14393.9512). See https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-68839 for the exact KB per product. Where immediate patching is not possible, compensating controls follow from the USB-storage attack surface: enforce USB device-installation restrictions via Group Policy (Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → System → Device Installation Restrictions, or the 'Removable Storage Access' policies) to block untrusted mass-storage devices, which prevents the vulnerable enumeration path but also blocks legitimate USB drives; on servers and kiosks, physically disable/epoxy unused USB ports and restrict console access; and if USB-over-IP redirection (e.g., in VDI/RDP) is used, disable USB mass-storage redirection to remove the remote presentation path. Note that device-control policies can disrupt legitimate removable-media workflows and must be tested before broad deployment.
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
The flaw lives in the Windows USB Mass Storage Class Driver, the kernel-mode component that enumerates and services USB block-storage devices (thumb drives, external disks, UAS/BOT devices). The root cause is classified as CWE-20 (improper input validation): the driver fails to properly bound-check a length or descriptor field supplied by the device, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow in a kernel pool allocation. Because the code runs in kernel context, a successful overflow yields SYSTEM-level code execution. The EUVD-listed affected builds span Windows Server 2012 through Windows Server 2025 and Windows 10 1607 through Windows 11 26H1, confirming this is core OS code present in every supported Windows edition rather than an optional feature.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
USB Mass Storage Class Driver is triggered by attaching a device, so realistic vector is physical (AV:P) not network; no auth or interaction needed and kernel RCE yields full C/I/A impact.
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows USB Mass Storage Class Driver allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
Executive ViewAI
A critical vulnerability in Windows USB storage drivers enables arbitrary code execution on any Windows system, affecting your entire client and server infrastructure. Although no public exploit identified at time of analysis, the universal exposure and CVSS 9.8 severity create material risk requiring immediate vendor patch deployment.
Apply vendor patch.
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.
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EUVD-2026-73403
GHSA-2622-hwfw-h976
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB