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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Recon
    Gain low-privilege local session via logon or RDP
  2. Delivery
    Craft malicious Win32K API call sequence
  3. Exploit
    Trigger out-of-bounds kernel memory read
  4. Install
    Leak kernel memory layout, defeat ASLR
  5. C2
    Construct write primitive using disclosed addresses
  6. Execute
    Overwrite privilege token structure
  7. Impact
    Execute as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Bounds checking, read limits
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Collection

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 authenticated local session with at least low-privilege access - the attacker must be able to execute code on the machine via interactive logon, Remote Desktop Protocol, or a pre-existing foothold shell. The CVSS AC:H rating indicates that reliable exploitation additionally requires a high-complexity technique such as a race condition or heap grooming, limiting automated or opportunistic weaponization. No non-default configuration or optional feature enablement is described as required; the vulnerable code path appears to be present in default Windows installations across all affected builds. Exploitation is strictly bounded to the local machine (AV:L, S:U); unauthenticated remote exploitation is not possible. The limiting factor for most environments is obtaining that initial low-privilege local code execution opportunity.

Impact

The CVSS 7.0 score with AV:L/AC:H/PR:L reflects a post-authentication local exploit requiring elevated technical complexity - not a push-button remote attack. The High Complexity rating is operationally meaningful: Win32K kernel exploits of this class typically depend on race conditions or heap-shaping techniques that reduce automation reliability and raise the bar for commodity tooling. No EPSS score, CISA KEV listing, or proof-of-concept code was included in the available intelligence, so exploitation probability cannot be quantified beyond structural CVSS signals. The C:H/I:H/A:H impact triad is unusually comprehensive for a pure CWE-125 read primitive and strongly implies the out-of-bounds read serves as a disclosure stage enabling a full privilege escalation chain rather than a standalone impact. Despite the AC:H complexity barrier, the enormous breadth of affected systems - Windows Server 2012 through 2025 and all current Windows 10/11 feature versions - makes the cumulative exposed population very large, warranting prioritized patching especially in environments where standard user accounts have interactive or RDP logon access.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A standard domain user with interactive or RDP logon access to a target Windows host crafts a sequence of Win32K API calls designed to trigger the out-of-bounds read, leaking kernel memory addresses and defeating ASLR. Using the disclosed layout, the attacker constructs a write primitive and overwrites a privilege token structure to obtain NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM access. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis.

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 09, 2026

Local privilege escalation in Windows Win32K allows a low-privileged authenticated user to gain SYSTEM-level access via an out-of-bounds read in the kernel graphics subsystem. The flaw spans a remarkably wide surface - Windows Server 2012 through Server 2025 and every current Windows 10/11 feature release - making it broadly relevant across enterprise patch cycles. Microsoft has released per-version updates; no public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis.

RemediationAI

Apply the Microsoft security update corresponding to each deployed Windows version as identified in EUVD-2026-73558 and the MSRC update guide at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-69630. Confirmed fix builds are: Windows Server 2012 and Server 2012 Core → 6.2.9200.26349; Windows Server 2012 R2 and R2 Core → 6.3.9600.23397; Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 1607 → 10.0.14393.9512; Windows 10 1809 and Windows Server 2019 → 10.0.17763.9245; Windows 10 21H2 → 10.0.19044.7725; Windows 10 22H2 → 10.0.19045.7725; Windows Server 2022 → 10.0.20348.5622; Windows 11 23H2 → 10.0.22631.7582; Windows 11 24H2 and Server 2025 (client) → 10.0.26100.9445, Server 2025 (server) → 10.0.26100.33438; Windows 11 25H2 → 10.0.26200.9445; Windows 11 26H1 → 10.0.28000.2954. As a compensating control where immediate patching is not feasible, restrict interactive logon and RDP access to administrator accounts only, removing the low-privilege session foothold the attacker requires. Note that logon restriction reduces opportunity but does not eliminate the vulnerability; it must be paired with eventual patching.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.2954
Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26349
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5622
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.9445
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26349
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 R2 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23397
Windows 10 Version 1607 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9512
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9512
Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7725
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438
Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.9445
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

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

Win32K (win32k.sys / win32kfull.sys) is the kernel-mode driver implementing Windows' USER and GDI subsystems - the low-level windowing and graphics primitives invoked by virtually every Windows process. CWE-125 (out-of-bounds read) at this privilege ring typically yields a controlled kernel memory disclosure that attackers chain into ASLR bypass and subsequently into a write primitive for full privilege escalation. The AC:H rating in the provided CVSS vector signals that reliable exploitation requires a high-complexity technique such as a race condition or precise heap grooming. Affected builds span NT 6.2 (Server 2012, build 6.2.9200.0) through NT 10.0.28000 (Windows 11 26H1), confirming the flaw resides in shared Win32K code inherited across the entire modern Windows lineage rather than an isolated component.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY 7.0 HIGH
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.0 HIGH

Local access with low privilege and high complexity matches a kernel OOB-read LPE chain; full C/I/A impact reflects SYSTEM-level escalation upon success.

3.1 AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/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
High
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 - 18:19 cve.org
HIGH 7.0

DescriptionCVE.org

Out-of-bounds read in Windows Win32K allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Windows privilege escalation vulnerability across Server 2012-2025 and Windows 10/11 allows authenticated users to escalate to SYSTEM-level access, effectively giving attackers full administrative control once they compromise any user account. This affects the vast majority of enterprise Windows infrastructure and creates a critical control gap enabling lateral movement and persistent compromise. Leadership must prioritize patching to close this privileged-access pathway before threat actors weaponize this broad attack surface.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 83% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
core Windows kernel component, all modern Windows versions affected
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 0.3%
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

35
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +35
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0
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