Skip to main content

Windows LSA EUVDEUVD-2026-99589

| CVE-2026-88161 HIGH
Use After Free (CWE-416)
2026-10-13 secure@microsoft.com GHSA-6mvj-8r53-v3j6
7.0
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: microsoft
View

Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Obtain low-privileged local account access
  2. Exploit
    Trigger use-after-free in LSA
  3. Execution
    Win race and reclaim freed object
  4. Impact
    Execute code as SYSTEM

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

Requires the attacker to already have local, authenticated access to the Windows host with at least low-level privileges (PR:L) - this is an elevation path, not an initial-access vector, so there is no remote or unauthenticated exposure (AV:L, not AV:N). Exploitation further requires winning a timing/race condition inherent to the use-after-free (AC:H), making reliable triggering difficult and limiting mass or automated abuse (SSVC Automatable=no). No special non-default Windows configuration is named in the advisory; the LSA component is present by default on all supported Windows versions. The practical limiting factors are therefore the need for pre-existing local foothold plus the race-win reliability, which most constrains realistic exploitation. Highest-risk deployments are multi-user and remote-session (RDP/terminal) hosts where low-privileged users share a machine with sensitive assets.

Impact

Signals converge on a moderate-priority local privilege escalation rather than an urgent emergency. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U, C:H/I:H/A:H, base 7.0) requires the attacker to already have local, authenticated (PR:L) access and to win a difficult-to-reliably-trigger condition (AC:H), which is typical of use-after-free (CWE-416) race conditions. CISA's SSVC framework reinforces a non-emergency posture: Exploitation=none and Automatable=no, meaning no observed exploitation and no reliable mass-automation path, though Technical Impact=total aligns with the C:H/I:H/A:H full-SYSTEM compromise once triggered. There is no CISA KEV listing and no POC indicated in the input, so exploitation is currently theoretical. The main tension is severity-vs-likelihood: a successful exploit yields total control of the LSA process (effectively SYSTEM), but the local-access requirement, low (not zero) privilege prerequisite, and high attack complexity substantially lower real-world likelihood. No EPSS score was provided, so exploitation-probability cannot be quantitatively corroborated. Treat this as standard-cadence patching (chain-with-RCE risk) rather than drop-everything, prioritizing multi-user, shared, or terminal/RDP hosts where low-privileged users and attackers coexist.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A low-privileged but authenticated user (or malware already running at that privilege) on a Windows host triggers a use-after-free condition in the Local Security Authority (LSA) by racing a specific object lifecycle, then reuses the freed memory to corrupt LSA state. Because the attack complexity is high (AC:H), the attacker may need multiple attempts to win the race, but success yields SYSTEM-level privileges. No public exploit was identified at the time of analysis, so this remains a demonstrated-impact-but-unproven-in-practice scenario.

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 13, 2026

Local privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows Local Security Authority (LSA) allows an authenticated attacker who already holds low-level local access on a Windows host to win a timing race against a use-after-free in the LSA process and obtain SYSTEM-level rights, with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The flaw spans all supported Windows client and server releases, including Windows 10 (1607 through 22H2), Windows 11 (23H2 through 26H2), and Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025 including Server Core installations, per the EUVD version ranges; exploitation requires local access (AV:L) plus a difficult race condition (AC:H), so there is no remote or unauthenticated exposure. Signal convergence - CISA SSVC Exploitation 'none', Automatable 'no', no KEV listing, and no public exploit identified at time of analysis - makes this a moderate-priority local elevation-of-privilege issue rather than an emergency, with the highest practical risk on multi-user or RDP/terminal hosts where low-privileged users share a machine with sensitive assets.

RemediationAI

Patch available per vendor advisory: Microsoft has published updates for this issue, and the fixed build level for each affected branch is the upper bound of the corresponding EUVD range - for example Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.9711, Windows 11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.7652, Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.5761, Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.9376, Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.9612, and Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.33650 - so apply the latest cumulative update matching each installed build via the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-88161. Because the vulnerability requires an already-established low-privileged local session, no configuration toggle removes the exposure; the effective compensating controls are access-shaping and detection measures whose trade-offs should be weighed. Restrict and audit interactive logon and RDP access so that untrusted or low-privileged users are not co-located on hosts that hold sensitive assets or cached credentials - this shrinks the attacker population but does not eliminate risk on shared jump boxes or terminal servers and may disrupt legitimate multi-user workflows. Enable Windows Defender Credential Guard and LSA protection (RunAsPPL) where hardware and application compatibility permit, which hardens the lsass process against post-exploitation tampering although it does not fix the underlying use-after-free and can break third-party authentication or credential providers that inject into lsass. Monitor and alert on lsass.exe crashes and unexpected WerFault/hang reports, since the race condition may first surface as anomalous LSA instability (the advisory also carries Denial Of Service and Memory Corruption tags) - noisy but useful, because legitimate lsass faults also generate these events. Given SSVC Exploitation 'none' and no public exploit identified at time of analysis, prioritize patching on high-value, multi-user, and internet-adjacent RDP hosts rather than emergency change-freezing across the estate.

Affected VersionsENISA

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

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 affected component is the Windows Local Security Authority, the subsystem hosted in lsass.exe that validates logons, builds and manages security tokens, and enforces local security policy. The root cause is CWE-416 (Use After Free): memory associated with an LSA object is released while a reference to it remains reachable, so a later LSA operation dereferences stale memory. Because lsass runs as a highly privileged process holding token and credential-related state, a successful use-after-free in that context is a memory-corruption primitive that can be steered toward privilege elevation, which is consistent with the supplied tags (Memory Corruption, Use After Free, Microsoft) and with the high CIA impact and SSVC Technical Impact rating of 'total'. The CVSS 3.1 vector AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H confirms the exploitation envelope: the attacker must already be executing locally on the target with low privileges (local, authenticated - PR:L), no user interaction is needed, and the high attack complexity reflects the need to win a timing/race window inherent to freeing and reusing the memory before the dangling reference is consumed. Scope is unchanged (S:U), so the impact is confined to the vulnerable host rather than crossing a security boundary into other components. No CPE strings were supplied in the input; the exact affected builds come from the EUVD version ranges, and no special non-default Windows configuration is required, since LSA is present by default on every listed release.

Know when the next one hits your stack

  • 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-only EoP needing an existing low-privileged account (AV:L/PR:L) and a UAF race win (AC:H); successful exploit grants full SYSTEM control, so C/I/A all High.

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: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
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 Local Security Authority (LSA) allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A privilege-escalation flaw in Microsoft Windows Local Security Authority (LSA) lets an attacker who already has local access on a host gain SYSTEM-level control, affecting every supported Windows 10 (1607 through 22H2), Windows 11 (23H2 through 26H2), and Windows Server 2012 through 2025 release, including Server Core; a vendor patch is available and there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis. Exploitation is local and requires a difficult timing race, so this is not a remote or emergency-level threat, but any host an intruder reaches can be fully compromised, enabling credential theft and lateral movement across the environment. Leadership should treat this as a mandatory patch-cycle item with priority on servers, domain controllers, and privileged-access workstations.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 85% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Core Windows LSA component present in every supported Windows client and server
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

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

Attack Technique

Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to access memory through a pointer after that memory has been deallocated.

Memory corruption occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions or accesses memory in unintended ways, violating the integrity of the process's address space.

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

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