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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Recon
    Obtain low-privilege local user session
  2. Delivery
    Craft malformed DCOM activation or marshaling request
  3. Exploit
    Submit request to SYSTEM-privileged DCOM Server process
  4. Install
    Trigger heap-based buffer overflow
  5. C2
    Corrupt heap control structures or function pointers
  6. Execute
    Redirect DCOM Server execution
  7. Impact
    Achieve arbitrary code execution as SYSTEM

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 a locally authenticated session with at least low privileges on the target system (PR:L per CVSS vector). Any standard Windows user account is sufficient - no administrative rights are needed to submit DCOM requests to the server process. DCOM Server is enabled and runs by default on all supported Windows installations; no special feature, non-default configuration, or specific deployment mode is required to expose the vulnerable code path. Exploitation is strictly local (AV:L): an attacker cannot reach this vulnerability directly over the network without first obtaining local code execution on the host (e.g., via an initial-access exploit, VPN session, or RDP access). Scope is unchanged (S:U) - the overflow does not directly pivot to other systems, but achieving SYSTEM on the local host provides a strong basis for lateral movement and credential harvesting.

Impact

CVSS 3.1 rates this 7.8 (High) with AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. The local attack vector (AV:L) bounds the direct exposure - remote exploitation is not directly possible - but PR:L confirms that any standard authenticated local session is sufficient, removing the most common practical barrier to LPE exploitation. AC:L and UI:N together indicate that no special race conditions, user actions, or non-default configurations are required once local access is established. No EPSS data was provided in the available intelligence; the absence of both a public exploit and a CISA KEV listing reduces immediate triage urgency relative to actively exploited issues. However, the extraordinary breadth of affected versions - including end-of-life Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 where patching requires Extended Security Updates - means the aggregate unpatched surface will remain large for an extended period. The heap overflow target is a universally running, highly privileged Windows service; any organization treating this as a low-priority patch risks leaving a reliable privilege escalation primitive open to any attacker who achieves initial foothold.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who has gained a standard user session on a Windows host - for example, through credential phishing or exploitation of a network-exposed initial-access vulnerability - submits a crafted DCOM activation or interface-marshaling request to the locally running DCOM Server process. The malformed request triggers a heap buffer overflow (CWE-122), corrupting heap metadata or overwriting a function pointer within the SYSTEM-privileged process, enabling the attacker to redirect execution and obtain SYSTEM-level code execution. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, but AC:L and UI:N indicate that weaponization from an established low-privilege foothold would be technically straightforward.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Sep 08, 2026

Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows DCOM Server enables a locally authenticated, low-privilege attacker to escalate to SYSTEM-level on affected hosts via a malformed DCOM activation or marshaling request. The vulnerability (CWE-122) spans effectively the entire active Microsoft Windows ecosystem - from end-of-life Server 2012 through current Windows 11 26H1 and Server 2025 - amplifying aggregate exposure significantly. No public exploit code and no CISA KEV listing have been identified at time of analysis; however, the low attack complexity and absence of user interaction requirements make this a practical post-initial-access privilege escalation primitive.

RemediationAI

Apply the Microsoft security update distributed through Windows Update, WSUS, or Microsoft Update Catalog; consult the MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-69284 for the specific KB article per affected product. Target build numbers per platform are provided in the EUVD-affected version data (e.g., Windows Server 2025 to ≥10.0.26100.33438, Windows Server 2022 to ≥10.0.20348.5622, Windows 10 21H2/22H2 to ≥10.0.19044.7725/10.0.19045.7725). Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 are end-of-life; organizations still operating these must procure Extended Security Update (ESU) entitlements to receive the patch. If immediate patching is not feasible, enforce the principle of least privilege by removing unnecessary local accounts, restricting interactive logon rights for service accounts via Group Policy (User Rights Assignment), and deploying Windows Firewall rules to limit local inter-process DCOM traffic - noting these are mitigations only and do not eliminate the vulnerability.

Affected VersionsENISA

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 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5622
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.9445
Windows 11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.7582
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26349
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.2954
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23397
Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7725
Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23397
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 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9512
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438
Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.7725
Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9512
Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26349

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

DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) extends Microsoft's COM framework to support inter-process and networked component activation; the DCOM Server process (hosted in services such as DcomLaunch/RPCSS) runs with SYSTEM-level privileges and handles local marshaling requests from any authenticated session. CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) indicates an out-of-bounds write into heap memory within this privileged process, likely triggered by a crafted object activation or interface-pointer marshaling payload. Because the DCOM Server operates with elevated privileges, a successful heap corruption primitive yields privilege escalation from any low-privilege context to SYSTEM. Affected CPE ranges cover Windows 10 (versions 1607 through 22H2), Windows 11 (23H2 through 26H1), Windows Server 2012/R2, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025 - including both full and Server Core installations.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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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-only exploitation requiring only a low-privilege session; full system impact post-overflow but no scope change across machine boundaries.

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 - 18:18 nvd
HIGH 7.8

DescriptionCVE.org

Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows DCOM Server allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A heap buffer overflow in Windows DCOM affects all supported Microsoft Windows systems from Server 2012 through Windows 11 and Server 2025, allowing authenticated users with low privileges to escalate to SYSTEM-level access. This privilege escalation vulnerability creates substantial risk across enterprises, as compromised local accounts can gain administrative control without user interaction, enabling lateral movement and data theft. Immediate assessment and patching is critical to contain post-compromise escalation risks within corporate environments.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 84% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Windows deployed across virtually all enterprise environments globally
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Less Likely
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 0.2%
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

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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