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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Obtain low-privileged network authentication
  2. Exploit
    Reach vulnerable kernel interface
  3. Execution
    Satisfy high-complexity trigger condition
  4. Impact
    Bypass kernel security feature

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A07:2025 - Authentication Failures
ASVS 5.0
V6 - Authentication Strong authentication
Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires the attacker to already possess low-level authenticated privileges (PR:L) and network reachability to the vulnerable Windows Kernel component (AV:N), and the high attack complexity (AC:H) indicates success depends on conditions outside the attacker's direct control - such as winning a timing/race window or a specific runtime state - rather than a single deterministic request. The description does not name the exact kernel security feature, protocol, or configuration setting involved, so the precise trigger cannot be pinned down from available data. Limiting factors that reduce realistic risk: the mandatory pre-existing authentication, the high complexity, and the fact that impact is confined to integrity (security-feature bypass) with no confidentiality or availability loss.

Impact

This is a moderate-severity (CVSS 5.3) security-feature-bypass in the Windows Kernel. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N) shows a network-reachable flaw that nonetheless requires low-level privileges (PR:L) and high attack complexity (AC:H), with the only impact being to integrity (I:H) - specifically the ability to bypass a security feature; confidentiality and availability are unaffected. No EPSS score was provided, the CVE is not listed in CISA KEV, and no public proof-of-concept is referenced, so all exploitation signals point to no public exploit identified at time of analysis. The combination of high complexity plus required authentication substantially dampens real-world risk relative to the broad Windows attack surface: this is not a wormable, unauthenticated RCE but a conditions-dependent authentication-weakness (CWE-1390) that an already-authenticated attacker could use to defeat a protection boundary. Treat it as a standard Patch-Tuesday-tier fix to roll out on normal cadence rather than an emergency, while recognizing the ubiquity of the affected platform. Key caveat: no EPSS, SSVC, or POC data was supplied, so the exploitation-likelihood judgment rests only on the absence of KEV/POC signals and the AC:H/PR:L vector.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who already holds low-privileged authenticated access reachable over the network engages a vulnerable Windows Kernel component and, by winning a race or satisfying specific runtime conditions implied by the high attack complexity, defeats a kernel security feature that should have blocked their action. Because impact is limited to integrity, the payoff is bypassing a protection boundary rather than reading data or crashing the host. No public exploit code is referenced, so exploitation would currently require original development.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
Patch available 0.4% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 14, 2026

A security-feature bypass in the Windows Kernel (CVE-2026-85939, CVSS 5.3) lets an authenticated attacker with only low-level privileges (PR:L per the CVSS vector) reach and subvert a kernel security control over the network, with the outcome limited to integrity impact - no loss of confidentiality or availability. Exploitation is not deterministic: the high attack-complexity rating (AC:H) indicates success depends on conditions outside the attacker's direct control, such as a race or timing window or a specific runtime state, and the affected kernel feature is not named in the available description. A vendor patch is available, and no public exploit code or confirmed active exploitation (CISA KEV) was identified at time of analysis; the risk is moderate and best addressed through prompt cumulative-update deployment across all supported Windows client and server branches listed in the advisory.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2026-85939 from the MSRC update guide (https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-85939) so that affected systems are brought at or above the build levels shown in the advisory - for example 10.0.26100.9711 for Windows 11 24H2 and Windows Server 2025, 10.0.26200.9711 for Windows 11 25H2, 10.0.22631.7652 for Windows 11 23H2, 10.0.17763.9376 for Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10 1809, and 10.0.14393.9612 for Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 1607 - deployed through Windows Update, WSUS, or your standard patch-management pipeline; because these are cumulative updates, installing the latest applicable servicing update for each branch is the correct action, and the exact build strings should be verified against MSRC as this CVE's source data shows a discrepancy for Windows 10 22H2. No specific workaround is published in the available data, so until patching completes use compensating controls whose trade-offs are understood: block or tightly ACL the network paths that expose the kernel's authenticated surface to untrusted segments (host firewall rules restricting SMB, RPC, and remote management to administrative subnets) at the cost of breaking legitimate remote file sharing and management, and enforce least privilege so that the population of low-privileged authenticated accounts able to reach these hosts is minimized, which reduces exposure but does not eliminate the bypass once an attacker holds such an account. Because the vulnerable kernel feature is unnamed, feature-specific hardening (for example enabling LSA protection or Credential Guard, tightening AppLocker/WDAC or attack surface reduction rules) may not cover the exact bypass path and should be treated as defense in depth rather than a fix, with the caveat that these controls can break legacy applications and management tooling. Given the AC:H, PR:L prerequisites and the absence of public exploit code or KEV-listed exploitation, this is a scheduled-patch priority rather than an emergency, but the affected servers should be patched on an accelerated timeline because kernel-level authentication bypasses are valuable to attackers who already have a foothold. If immediate patching is not feasible, monitor for anomalous authenticated activity touching kernel-exposed interfaces and audit for unexpected changes to security-relevant policy or configuration state, which would be consistent with the integrity-only impact of this bypass.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.9711
Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
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 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7807
Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19044.7807
Windows 10 Version 1607 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33650
Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.3231
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33650
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
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 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5761
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
Windows 11 Version 26H2 10.0.26300.0 <10.0.26300.9711

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_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 16 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 flaw is classified as CWE-1390 (Weak Authentication) and resides in the Windows Kernel, the privileged core that arbitrates security boundaries such as token handling, privilege checks, and access enforcement for protected features. Because the vulnerable logic runs with kernel authority, an attacker who already holds an authenticated low-privileged session on or with network reach to the machine can attempt to bypass a kernel-level security feature rather than perform memory corruption - the assessed vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N reflects network reachability, mandatory pre-existing authentication, no user interaction, and integrity-only impact against the same security scope (security-feature bypass). The high complexity component signals the bypass is not a single reliable request but depends on a winning condition or particular system state, which constrains mass exploitation. Notably, the public description does not identify the exact kernel security feature, protocol, or configuration involved, so the precise trigger, the specific RPC/IOCTL/service surface used, and whether a specific Windows component (for example a token, credential, or policy-check feature) is implicated cannot be confirmed from the available data. No CPE strings were supplied, so affected-product identification relies on the vendor/EUVD build ranges rather than formal CPE enumeration, and the shadow vulnerability is tracked in the EU as EUVD-2026-99635 with the vendor advisory at MSRC as the authoritative source.

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY 5.3 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
vuln.today AI 5.3 MEDIUM

Network-reachable but needs authenticated low privileges (PR:L) and race/condition-dependent exploitation (AC:H); only a security-feature/integrity boundary is affected, so C:N and A:N.

3.1 AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
4.0 AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).

CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
High
Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Oct 13, 2026 - 20:20 EUVD
CVE Published
Oct 13, 2026 - 19:21 nvd
MEDIUM 5.3

DescriptionCVE.org

Weak authentication in Windows Kernel allows an authorized attacker to bypass a security feature over a network.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.4%
Top 70% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Windows kernel present in virtually all Windows client and server deployments
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Less Likely
Data Quality
4 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 MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.4%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
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· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

26
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +26
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.

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