Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessObtain local low-privileged access
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DeliveryTrigger use-after-free in Windows Security App
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ExploitReclaim freed object with controlled data
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ExecutionExecute code in elevated context
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ImpactGain SYSTEM-level privileges
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 | Exploitation requires the attacker to already hold local, authenticated access to the target Windows system (PR:L, AV:L) - this is a post-access privilege-escalation primitive, not a remote entry point. The use-after-free (CWE-416) further demands winning a timing/race condition or meeting specific heap-state preconditions (reflected in AC:H), which limits reliability and typically requires multiple attempts or controlled memory grooming. No user interaction by a victim is needed (UI:N). The primary limiting factors are the need for prior local foothold with valid credentials and the high attack complexity of reliably reclaiming the freed object. |
| Impact | This is a locally-exploitable privilege-escalation flaw (CWE-416 use-after-free) in the Windows Security App, rated CVSS 7.0 with vector AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N and full C:H/I:H/A:H impact. The signals point to moderate real-world urgency rather than top-tier priority: the attacker must already have local, authenticated access (AV:L, PR:L) and must win a race or meet specific timing conditions (AC:H), which materially lowers reliability and rules out remote mass-exploitation. No EPSS score, CISA KEV listing, or public POC was provided in the input, so there is no evidence of active exploitation or available exploit code at time of analysis. One data inconsistency: the input Tags include 'Denial Of Service,' but the description and vector describe local privilege elevation - the A:H component could manifest as DoS, but the primary impact per Microsoft is EoP, so treat the DoS tag as secondary/possibly mislabeled. Net: a credible local EoP suitable for post-compromise lateral movement, but AC:H and the authenticated-local prerequisite keep it below the priority of network-reachable or wormable bugs. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker who already has low-privileged, authenticated access to a Windows host (e.g., via phishing, a standard user account, or a prior foothold) runs code that triggers a use-after-free condition in the Windows Security App. By winning the required timing/race window (AC:H) and reclaiming the freed object, they execute attacker-controlled logic in a higher-privilege context to elevate from a standard user toward SYSTEM. No public exploit code or active exploitation was identified in the provided data. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026
Local privilege escalation in the Windows Security App allows an authenticated attacker with existing local access to elevate privileges to SYSTEM or administrative level via a use-after-free (CWE-416) memory corruption condition. Exploitation is rated CVSS 7.0 with vector AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, requiring a local foothold and successful heap grooming or timing manipulation; no public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, and Microsoft has released a patch (see advisory).
RemediationAI
Apply the security update provided by Microsoft for CVE-2026-105725, available via the Microsoft Security Update Guide (https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-105725). Because exploitation requires an attacker to already have local authenticated access and high complexity, prioritizing the patch on multi-user systems and endpoints is recommended. As a compensating control until patching is complete, enforce the principle of least privilege to limit the number of accounts with local logon rights, monitor for anomalous process elevation or memory corruption events, and consider restricting interactive local access to trusted users. Note that these mitigations reduce the attack surface but do not eliminate the underlying flaw; only the vendor patch fully addresses it.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
The vulnerability is a use-after-free (CWE-416) in the Windows Security App, a built-in Windows component for managing security features like Defender antivirus, firewall, and device security. This memory corruption class occurs when the app dereferences a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, which can allow an attacker to reclaim the freed object with controlled data and redirect execution or corrupt state. The attacker must already have local, authenticated access (PR:L) and meet high attack complexity (AC:H) conditions such as winning a race or arranging specific heap layout, making reliable exploitation difficult. Successful exploitation yields full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact (C:H/I:H/A:H) within the context of the vulnerable process, potentially leading to system-level compromise. The affected component is identified by the vendor as the Windows Security App; specific Windows versions and builds are detailed in Microsoft's security update guide.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local post-authentication EoP so AV:L and PR:L; use-after-free race gives AC:H; successful elevation yields full C:H/I:H/A:H with no scope change.
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Use after free in Windows Security App allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Executive ViewAI
A high-severity local privilege escalation vulnerability in the Windows Security App lets an attacker who already has a foothold on a Windows endpoint escalate to SYSTEM-level control, potentially allowing them to disable endpoint protections, tamper with security tooling, or move further into the environment. Because exploitation requires pre-existing local access and careful memory manipulation, the near-term risk is concentrated on endpoints that are already compromised or that host high-value data and shared access. Leadership should care because SYSTEM-level access on endpoints directly undermines the integrity of the detective and protective controls the organization depends on.
No vendor-released patch identified at time of analysis (the advisory text references a Microsoft patch without a stated fix version - verify with the vendor). Interim mitigations: enforce strict least privilege and remove unnecessary local admin rights, apply application allowlisting, enable Credential Guard/LSA protection and EDR tamper protection, restrict interactive logon on sensitive systems, and monitor for anomalous elevation to SYSTEM or modification of Windows Security App components until a validated fix is deployed.
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
Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to access memory through a pointer after that memory has been deallocated.
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EUVD-2026-99028
GHSA-7rc7-xq5x-rcpw
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB