Skip to main content
View

Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Authenticated local access as low-priv user
  2. Delivery
    Invoke CimFS operations concurrently
  3. Exploit
    Win race to trigger use-after-free
  4. Execution
    Reclaim freed kernel object
  5. Persist
    Corrupt kernel memory, execute as SYSTEM
  6. Impact
    Full host compromise / privilege escalation

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Concurrency control, locking
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: 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 a valid low-privileged local account on the Windows host (PR:L) and the ability to run arbitrary code locally (AV:L) that exercises the Composite Image File System (CimFS) driver. The core limiting factor is the CWE-362 race condition captured by AC:H: success depends on winning a non-deterministic timing window between concurrent CimFS operations, so exploitation is probabilistic and may require repeated attempts rather than being reliable on first try. No user interaction by a victim is needed (UI:N), and no special non-default configuration is indicated - CimFS is present in standard supported Windows 10 (21H2/22H2), Windows 11 (23H2/24H2/25H2/26H1/26H2), and Windows Server 2022/2025 installations below the fixed build numbers. The principal risk-reducing factors are therefore the prerequisite authenticated local foothold and the timing unreliability of the race, not any configuration gate.

Impact

This is a moderate-priority local elevation-of-privilege flaw, not an emergency. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.0 (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) reflects a genuinely serious outcome - full confidentiality, integrity, and availability compromise - but tempered by two important limiting metrics: AV:L means the attacker must already execute code locally, and AC:H reflects the win-the-race timing dependency inherent to this CWE-362 use-after-free. PR:L confirms the attacker must be an already-authenticated low-privileged user, so this is a privilege-escalation primitive for an attacker who already has a foothold, not an initial-access vector. No EPSS score, KEV listing, or POC indicator was supplied in the input, so there is no public evidence of exploitation; per the precision rules the correct characterization is 'no public exploit identified at time of analysis.' The high-impact triad plus a network-origin reporter (Microsoft itself) means defenders should patch in the normal Patch Tuesday cycle, but the local-only, authenticated, race-condition profile argues against treating it as a drop-everything issue absent any exploitation signal. One data note: the input Tags include 'Denial Of Service,' which is a weaker characterization than the description's stated privilege-escalation impact and the A:H/C:H/I:H vector - verify the primary impact with the MSRC advisory rather than relying on the tag.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A low-privileged user already logged onto a Windows host runs a crafted program that repeatedly manipulates a Composite Image File System (CimFS) object to trigger a use-after-free by winning a timing race between concurrent operations. On a successful race, the freed-then-reused kernel object lets the attacker corrupt memory and execute code at SYSTEM, escalating from a standard account to full control. No public exploit code was identified in the provided data, and the AC:H metric indicates exploitation is non-deterministic and may require many attempts.

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

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

Alert me

AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026

Local privilege escalation in the Windows Composite Image File System (CimFS) driver allows an authenticated, low-privileged local user to reach SYSTEM-level code execution by winning a timing race that triggers a use-after-free in the driver. Exploitation requires an existing local account plus the ability to run code on the host, and the high attack complexity (AC:H) of the race makes success probabilistic rather than reliable, with no user interaction needed; no public exploit identified at time of analysis, and there is no KEV listing. Affected builds include Windows 10 21H2/22H2, Windows 11 23H2/24H2/25H2/26H1/26H2, and Windows Server 2022/2025 below their fixed build numbers, and Microsoft has released patches.

RemediationAI

Apply the vendor patch: Microsoft reports a fix is available, with fixed builds of Windows 10 21H2/22H2 at 10.0.19044.7807, Windows 11 23H2 at 10.0.22631.7652, 24H2 at 10.0.26100.9711, 25H2 at 10.0.26200.9711, 26H2 at 10.0.26300.9711, 26H1 at 10.0.28000.3231, Windows Server 2022 at 10.0.20348.5761, and Windows Server 2025 (including Server Core) at 10.0.26100.33650, all obtainable through the MSRC update guide at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-85824. No configuration-based or restart-free workaround is published, and CimFS is a core component that should not be disabled because doing so would break container and image-mount functionality. Because the attacker must already hold a local account and be able to execute code on the host, the realistic compensating controls target that prerequisite rather than the driver itself: enforce least privilege and eliminate shared or stale local accounts, remove unnecessary local administrator rights, and use Windows Defender Application Control or AppLocker allowlisting to constrain arbitrary local binary execution, accepting the operational cost of maintaining an application inventory. Additionally, monitor for unexpected writes to or mount activity against CimFS-backed image paths as a detection measure. These controls reduce the attack surface but do not eliminate the kernel race window; patching is the only complete fix, and given the authenticated, timing-dependent prerequisites this should be scheduled as a routine monthly update rather than treated as an emergency.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.9711
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5761
Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19044.7807
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.9711
Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7807
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33650
Windows 11 Version 26H2 10.0.26300.0 <10.0.26300.9711
Windows 11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.7652
Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.3231
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33650

Affected Packages

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_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 10 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 Composite Image File System is a kernel-mode file system driver (cimfs.sys) that presents container and image layers as a single composite file so they can be mounted without extraction, and it ships by default on supported Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2022/2025 builds (the affected ranges in the EUVD data are defined by the shared CimFS component rather than by a separate optional feature). The advisory text describes a use-after-free, while the assigned weakness is CWE-362 (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization); read together, the root cause is a race in which two concurrent CimFS operations interleave so that one releases a buffer or object that the other still references, and the subsequent access to the freed kernel memory is the use-after-free. The CVSS vector's AC:H is a direct reflection of that design: the interleaving window is small and non-deterministic, so exploitation is probabilistic and may need repeated attempts, and the accompanying 'Denial Of Service' tag is consistent with a failed attempt degrading into a crash or bugcheck rather than a clean failure. Because the corruption occurs in kernel memory reachable from a low-privileged local context, a successful race yields kernel-level write primitives and a practical path to SYSTEM privileges, which matches the C:H/I:H/A:H impact rating.

Know when Windows 10 21h2 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 7.0 HIGH
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.0 HIGH

Local code execution needed (AV:L), exploitation hinges on winning a CimFS race so AC:H, a standard user account suffices so PR:L; kernel UAF yields full SYSTEM impact (C/I/A:H).

3.1 AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/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
Oct 13, 2026 - 20:20 EUVD
CVE Published
Oct 13, 2026 - 19:21 cve.org
HIGH 7.0

DescriptionCVE.org

Use after free in Windows Composite Image File System allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A high-severity local privilege-escalation flaw in Microsoft's Windows CimFS driver affects a broad set of Windows 10 21H2/22H2, Windows 11 23H2/24H2/25H2/26H1/26H2, and Windows Server 2022/2025 systems, allowing a local user to gain SYSTEM-level control of the host. Successful exploitation could lead to credential theft, lateral movement, and full compromise of affected endpoints or servers, making patching a priority for security leadership. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and no KEV listing, but the broad platform exposure and SYSTEM-level impact keep operational risk meaningful until remediation is complete; Microsoft has issued patches (Patch available per vendor advisory).

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 92% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
CimFS ships in all supported Windows 10/11 and Server builds
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

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

Attack Technique

Race conditions occur when multiple concurrent requests exploit the brief time gap between checking a condition and acting upon it (TOCTOU - Time of Check, Time of Use).

Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.

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-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-2024-21412 HIGH POC
8.1 Feb 13

Internet Shortcut Files Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.1), this vulnerability is rem

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-2025-33053 HIGH POC
8.8 Jun 10

Windows Internet Shortcut Files (.url) contain an external control vulnerability (CVE-2025-33053, CVSS 8.8) that enables

CVE-2025-33073 HIGH POC
8.8 Jun 10

Windows SMB contains an improper access control vulnerability (CVE-2025-33073, CVSS 8.8) enabling authenticated attacker

CVE-2024-21338 HIGH POC
7.8 Feb 13

Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is low attack co

CVE-2013-3900 MEDIUM
5.5 Dec 11

Why is Microsoft republishing a CVE from 2013? We are republishing CVE-2013-3900 in the Security Update Guide to update

CVE-2025-21293 HIGH POC
8.8 Jan 14

Active Directory Domain Services contains an elevation of privilege vulnerability that allows authenticated domain users

CVE-2024-35250 HIGH POC
7.8 Jun 11

Windows Kernel-Mode Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is l

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