Skip to main content
View

Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Gain low-privileged local foothold
  2. Delivery
    Craft malformed UPnP data
  3. Exploit
    Trigger heap buffer overflow in UPnP Device Host
  4. Execution
    Execute code in elevated context
  5. Impact
    Achieve SYSTEM-level privilege escalation

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 local code execution on the target host as an already-authenticated low-privileged user (CVSS PR:L, AV:L) and requires the Windows UPnP Device Host service to be running and reachable by the attacker's process. There is no remote vector and no user interaction is needed (UI:N). The primary limiting factors are the need for a pre-existing authenticated local foothold and the presence/activation of the UPnP Device Host service, which is not always in use in hardened or server environments; this makes the flaw a privilege-escalation stage rather than an initial-access vector.

Impact

This is a locally-exploitable elevation-of-privilege flaw (CVSS 7.8). The CVSS vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H indicates an attacker needs local access and must already hold low-level privileges (PR:L), but attack complexity is low and no user interaction is required, yielding full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the host. Multiple signals converge toward a moderate, non-urgent priority rather than an emergency: CISA's SSVC decision framework reports Exploitation=none (no observed or public exploitation), Automatable=no (consistent with a local EoP that cannot be sprayed at scale), and Technical Impact=total (consistent with C:H/I:H/A:H and the 'total' system compromise a heap overflow in a host service can yield). There is no EPSS score, no KEV listing, and no public POC in the provided data, so exploitation probability signals are absent rather than low. The description's 'authorized attacker' phrasing aligns with the CVSS PR:L requirement, so the signals are internally consistent and not conflicting. Net: a genuine but not drop-everything issue - a privilege-escalation primitive valuable as a second stage after an attacker already has a foothold, not a remotely-wormable threat. Note that EPSS data is entirely missing from the input, so probabilistic exploitation likelihood could not be weighed.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who has already obtained a low-privileged foothold on a Windows host (e.g., via phishing or a prior vulnerability) runs a crafted program that sends malformed data to the UPnP Device Host service, triggering the heap-based buffer overflow to corrupt memory and execute code in a higher-privileged context. No user interaction is required once local access exists. No public exploit code was identified at the time of analysis, so this would require original exploit development.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 14, 2026

Local privilege escalation in the Windows UPnP Device Host service allows an authenticated low-privileged user to execute code with elevated rights by triggering a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122), rated CVSS 7.8. Exploitation requires an existing local foothold (AV:L, PR:L) and the UPnP Device Host service to be running and reachable; no user interaction is needed (UI:N), and there is no remote vector. No public exploit code or active exploitation has been identified at time of analysis.

RemediationAI

Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2026-85373; fixed builds are identified by the version thresholds above (e.g., Windows 11 24H2 10.0.26100.9711 or later, Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.5761 or later, Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.9376 or later). If immediate patching is not possible, disable the UPnP Device Host service (upnphost) where it is not required-this removes the vulnerable code path but breaks UPnP device hosting and discovery, which can affect applications relying on it. Additionally, restrict local logon rights and monitor for unexpected privilege escalation attempts; because exploitation requires a pre-existing local authenticated session, reducing the number of low-privileged local accounts and hardening local access limits the attack surface. See the vendor advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-85373.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows 11 Version 26H2 10.0.26300.0 <10.0.26300.9711
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26434
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23470
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5761
Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26434
Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19044.7807
Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.9711
Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.3231
Windows 10 Version 1607 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.9711
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33650
Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23470
Windows 11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.7652
Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33650
Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7807

Affected Packages

euvd windows_10_version_1607 fix: 10.0.14393.9612
euvd windows_10_version_1809 fix: 10.0.17763.9376
euvd windows_10_version_21h2 fix: 10.0.19044.7807
euvd windows_10_version_22h2 fix: 10.0.19044.7807
euvd windows_11_version_23h2 fix: 10.0.22631.7652
euvd windows_11_version_24h2 fix: 10.0.26100.9711
euvd windows_11_version_25h2 fix: 10.0.26200.9711
euvd windows_11_version_26h1 fix: 10.0.28000.3231
euvd windows_11_version_26h2 fix: 10.0.26300.9711
euvd windows_server_2012 fix: 6.2.9200.26434
euvd windows_server_2012_r2 fix: 6.3.9600.23470
euvd windows_server_2012_r2_server_core_installation fix: 6.3.9600.23470
euvd windows_server_2012_server_core_installation fix: 6.2.9200.26434
euvd windows_server_2016 fix: 10.0.14393.9612
euvd windows_server_2016_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.14393.9612
euvd windows_server_2019 fix: 10.0.17763.9376
euvd windows_server_2019_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.17763.9376
euvd windows_server_2022 fix: 10.0.20348.5761
euvd windows_server_2025 fix: 10.0.26100.33650
euvd windows_server_2025_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.26100.33650

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 20 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 UPnP Device Host (upnphost) service hosts UPnP devices and responds to SSDP discovery on the local network stack, typically running in a privileged security context. A heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) in its handling of attacker-supplied data lets a local, authenticated user corrupt heap metadata and gain code execution in the service's security context, which constitutes a privilege escalation. The CVSS 3.1 vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H confirms the local, low-privilege prerequisite and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact; the root cause is unsafe memory copying into a fixed-size heap buffer, a bug class that can be reliably triggered once the service is active. Because the service is not always running on hardened or server SKUs, the attack surface is environment-dependent.

Know when Windows 10 1607 gets its next vulnerability

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

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 vector and PR:L reflect the described authorized local attacker; low complexity and unchanged scope with full C/I/A impact match a heap-overflow EoP yielding SYSTEM.

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
Oct 13, 2026 - 20:20 EUVD
CVE Published
Oct 13, 2026 - 19:21 cve.org
HIGH 7.8

DescriptionCVE.org

Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Device Host allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

The Windows UPnP Device Host service contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability (CVE-2026-85373) that allows an authenticated low-privileged user to execute code with elevated rights, potentially granting full control of affected endpoints. Organizations running Windows systems with this service enabled are at risk, though no public exploit identified at time of analysis. Leadership should prioritize patching to prevent an attacker with an existing local foothold from escalating privileges and bypassing security controls.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 77% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Core Windows component across all supported client and server editions
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 0.3%
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

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.

CVE-2021-40444 HIGH POC
8.8 Sep 15

Windows MSHTML component contains a remote code execution vulnerability that allows attackers to craft malicious ActiveX

CVE-2021-34527 HIGH POC
8.8 Jul 02

<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Windows Print Spooler service improperly performs privileged fi

CVE-2022-30190 HIGH POC
7.8 Jun 01

Windows MSDT (Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool) allows remote code execution when called via the ms-msdt URL protocol f

CVE-2017-0147 HIGH POC
7.5 Mar 17

The SMBv1 server in Microsoft Windows Vista SP2; Windows Server 2008 SP2 and R2 SP1; Windows 7 SP1; Windows 8.1; Windows

CVE-2018-8174 HIGH POC
7.5 May 09

The Windows VBScript engine contains a remote code execution vulnerability in object handling that allows full system co

CVE-2021-1675 HIGH POC
7.8 Jun 08

Windows Print Spooler Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no auth

CVE-2016-7255 HIGH POC
7.8 Nov 10

The Win32k kernel-mode driver in Windows Vista through Windows Server 2016 allows local privilege escalation, exploited

CVE-2023-36884 HIGH POC
7.5 Jul 11

Windows Search Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely explo

CVE-2023-44487 HIGH POC
7.5 Oct 10

Denial of service against HTTP/2 server implementations allows remote unauthenticated attackers to exhaust server resour

CVE-2024-30088 HIGH POC
7.0 Jun 11

Windows Kernel contains a TOCTOU race condition vulnerability allowing local privilege escalation, exploited by the OilR

CVE-2019-1458 HIGH POC
7.8 Dec 10

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in

CVE-2018-8453 HIGH POC
7.8 Oct 10

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows when the Win32k component fails to properly handle objects in

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy