Buffer Overflow
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.
How It Works
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. This overwrites whatever data or code exists there, corrupting program state and potentially giving attackers control over execution flow.
Stack-based overflows are the most common variant. When a function allocates a fixed-size buffer on the stack and then copies user-controlled input without proper bounds checking, attackers can overflow past the buffer to overwrite the function's return address. When the function completes, instead of returning to legitimate code, execution jumps to attacker-specified memory containing malicious shellcode. Heap-based overflows work differently—they corrupt heap metadata like chunk size fields or free list pointers, leading to arbitrary memory writes when the allocator processes the corrupted structures.
Modern exploitation bypasses defensive mechanisms through techniques like Return-Oriented Programming (ROP), which chains together existing code snippets to avoid non-executable memory protections. Attackers may also use heap spraying to reliably position shellcode at predictable addresses, defeating address randomization.
Impact
- Remote code execution — attacker gains ability to run arbitrary commands with the privileges of the vulnerable process
- Privilege escalation — exploiting kernel or setuid program overflows to gain root/SYSTEM access
- Denial of service — crashes and memory corruption that render systems unusable
- Information disclosure — reading sensitive data from adjacent memory regions that should be inaccessible
- Authentication bypass — overwriting security-critical variables like permission flags or user IDs
Real-World Examples
Fortinet FortiOS suffered a critical buffer overflow (CVE-2025-32756) that allowed unauthenticated remote attackers to execute code as root on firewalls and VPN gateways. Attackers actively exploited this to compromise enterprise network perimeters before patches were available.
The Slammer worm from 2003 exploited a stack overflow in Microsoft SQL Server, spreading to 75,000 hosts in ten minutes by sending a single malformed UDP packet that overwrote the return address with shellcode. No authentication was required.
OpenSSH historically contained a heap overflow in challenge-response authentication that allowed pre-authentication remote root compromise on Unix systems, demonstrating how memory corruption in privileged network services creates maximum impact scenarios.
Mitigation
- Memory-safe languages — Rust, Go, and modern managed languages prevent buffer overflows by design through automatic bounds checking
- Stack canaries — random values placed before return addresses that detect corruption before control transfer
- Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) — randomizes memory locations making exploitation less reliable
- Data Execution Prevention (DEP/NX) — marks memory regions as non-executable, preventing direct shellcode execution
- Bounds checking — validate input sizes before copying, use safe functions like
strncpyinstead ofstrcpy - Fuzzing and static analysis — automated testing to discover overflows before deployment
Recent CVEs (41271)
Privilege escalation in Windows Message Queuing (MSMQ) allows a locally authenticated attacker to gain SYSTEM-level privileges via a heap-based buffer overflow. Affected systems are those running Windows with the Message Queuing service enabled. The CVSS score of 7.8 (High) reflects high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, though exploitation requires existing local access. No public exploit or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis.
Heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Desktop Window Manager (dwm.exe) enables a locally authenticated low-privileged user to escalate to SYSTEM-level privileges. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N) confirms exploitation requires only existing local access with standard user credentials and no user interaction, making this a viable second-stage privilege escalation tool post-initial-compromise. No public exploit or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis, but the low attack complexity is a meaningful risk signal for defenders.
Privilege escalation in Windows Desktop Window Manager (DWM) allows a low-privileged local attacker to exploit a heap-based buffer overflow and obtain SYSTEM-level access. The vulnerability affects all modern Windows systems where DWM is running - its default state on any graphical Windows installation - and requires no user interaction once the attacker has local code execution. No public exploit identified at time of analysis and not listed in CISA KEV, though the low attack complexity (AC:L) meaningfully reduces the skill threshold for weaponization.
Local privilege escalation in Windows Installer (msiexec) enables an authenticated low-privileged user to trigger a heap-based buffer overflow, potentially achieving SYSTEM-level code execution across a broad range of Windows client and server platforms spanning over a decade of releases. Affected systems include Windows 10 through Windows 11 25H2 and Windows Server 2012 through Server 2025, making the exposure surface extensive across enterprise and consumer deployments. No public exploit identified at time of analysis and no active exploitation confirmed via CISA KEV; vendor-released patches are available through the Microsoft Security Response Center.
Remote code execution via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows iSCSI Target Service affects a broad range of Windows Server versions from Server 2012 through Server 2025, as well as Windows 10 (versions 1607 and 1809). An unauthenticated network attacker can send a malformed iSCSI protocol request to trigger CWE-122 heap corruption and achieve arbitrary code execution on the target host. No public exploit identified at time of analysis and no CISA KEV listing, though the CVSS score of 8.1 (AC:H) reflects real exploitation complexity; the full C:H/I:H/A:H impact triad makes this a credible priority for environments running the iSCSI Target role.
Privilege escalation in the Windows Remote Access API via a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) allows an authenticated local attacker with low privileges to gain full SYSTEM-level control over affected Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022/2025 hosts. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N) confirms exploitation requires only a valid local account and no user interaction, making it a reliable post-compromise escalation path. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis; Microsoft has released patches for all enumerated affected versions.
Privilege escalation via heap buffer overflow in the Windows Remote Access (RAS) API affects every major in-support Windows desktop and server release, from Server 2012 R2 through Windows 11 26H1 and Server 2025. An authenticated local attacker with low-privileged access can trigger a CWE-122 heap overflow to achieve full SYSTEM-level compromise with High confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact and no user interaction required. No public exploit code or active exploitation has been identified at time of analysis; Microsoft has released a patch across all affected build lines.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office enables arbitrary local code execution when a user opens a specially crafted document. Affected products span seven product lines across Windows and macOS, including Office 2019, Office LTSC 2021/2024, Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, and their Mac counterparts, all prior to the vendor-released patch. No public exploit or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis, but the breadth of the affected install base and the low-complexity exploitation path make this a high-priority patching item.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office enables local code execution when a user opens a specially crafted document, affecting multiple product lines including Office 2016 through Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise. The vulnerability carries a CVSS 7.8 (High) score and achieves full confidentiality, integrity, and availability compromise on the victim system. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, and Microsoft has released patches via the standard Office Security Releases channel.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Access enables local code execution across Office 2016, 2019, LTSC 2021, LTSC 2024, and Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise when a victim opens a specially crafted database file. The flaw, rooted in CWE-122, yields full High/High/High impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CVSS 7.8), making successful exploitation equivalent to arbitrary code execution in the user's security context. No public exploit code and no CISA KEV listing have been identified at time of analysis; Microsoft has released patches via the Office Security Releases channel.
Stack-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Access enables a local unauthenticated attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution when a victim opens a specially crafted Access database file. Affected products span Microsoft Access 2016 (32-bit and 64-bit), Office 2019, Office LTSC 2021, Office LTSC 2024, and Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and a vendor-released patch is available through the Microsoft Security Response Center.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Word enables local code execution with High confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact when a user opens a specially crafted document. Affects Microsoft Office 2019, Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Office LTSC 2021 and 2024, Word 2016, and corresponding Mac editions. No public exploit identified at time of analysis and the vulnerability is not listed in CISA KEV, but the broad product footprint and low attack complexity make patch application a near-term priority for enterprise defenders.
Heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) in Microsoft Office Access enables local code execution when a user opens a specially crafted database file, with full high-impact compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CVSS 7.8). Affected products span Microsoft Access 2016 through Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise and Office LTSC 2024. No public exploit or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis; a vendor patch is available via the Microsoft Security Response Center.
Stack-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Access enables local code execution with high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Affected products span Microsoft Access 2016, Office 2019, Office LTSC 2021, Office LTSC 2024, and Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise - all at version 16.0.x or 19.0.x prior to the patched releases. An attacker who can deliver a malicious Access file and induce a local user to open it can achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of that user. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and this CVE does not appear in the CISA KEV catalog.
Local code execution via heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office affects multiple product lines including Office 2019, 2021, 2024 LTSC, and Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise. An integer overflow or wraparound during document parsing leads to an undersized heap allocation (CWE-122), enabling arbitrary code execution at the privilege level of the opening user when a victim opens a maliciously crafted Office file. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, and no CISA KEV listing is present, though the full-triad high-impact CVSS score of 7.8 reflects the severity of successful exploitation.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office, rooted in an integer underflow during document parsing, enables local code execution with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact when a user opens a specially crafted file. All major Office release channels on both Windows and Mac are affected, including Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Office LTSC 2024/2021/2019/2016, and their Mac equivalents. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, but a vendor-released patch is available via the Microsoft Security Response Center.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Access enables local arbitrary code execution with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact across several Office product families. The vulnerability, rooted in CWE-122, affects Microsoft Access 2016 (both 32- and 64-bit editions), Office 2019, Office LTSC 2021, Office LTSC 2024, and Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction - consistent with a malicious database file delivery scenario - and a vendor patch is available; no public exploit code or active exploitation has been identified at time of analysis.
Stack-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Word enables local arbitrary code execution when a user opens a maliciously crafted document. Affected products span Word 2016 through Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise and LTSC 2021/2024 on both Windows and macOS. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, but Microsoft has released patches across all affected product lines via the August 2026 security update cycle.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Access enables local code execution when a user opens a specially crafted Access database file. Affected products span Access 2016, Office 2019, Office LTSC 2021, Office LTSC 2024, and Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise - representing a broad corporate user base. Vendor patch is available via MSRC; no public exploit or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis.
Code execution via buffer over-read in Microsoft Office Word affects multiple Windows and Mac Office product lines when a user opens a specially crafted document. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R) confirms this is a local exploitation scenario requiring user interaction - consistent with a malicious document delivery attack - yielding full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the affected system. No special privileges are required from the attacker. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing was identified in the provided intelligence at time of analysis.
Local code execution in Microsoft Office stems from an integer overflow that cascades into a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122), affecting Office 2016 through LTSC 2024 on both Windows and macOS. An unauthenticated attacker who can convince a target user to open a crafted Office document gains full code execution with the victim's privilege level - achieving high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact per the CVSS:3.1 AV:L/C:H/I:H/A:H rating. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing was identified at time of analysis, but the patch is vendor-confirmed and available via Microsoft's Security Update Guide.
Local code execution in Microsoft Office affects all major editions across Windows and macOS, including Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Office LTSC 2021/2024, Office 2019, and their Mac counterparts. The vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) triggered when a user opens a specially crafted document, granting the attacker arbitrary code execution at the victim's privilege level. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and a vendor-released patch is available, making this a high-priority patching target across enterprise Office deployments.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office allows local code execution across a wide range of Office versions on both Windows and macOS when a victim opens a specially crafted document. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R) confirms that no privileges are required - only that a user interacts with malicious content - making this practically reachable via phishing or drive-by document delivery despite the local attack vector. No active exploitation has been confirmed in CISA KEV, and no public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis; a vendor-released patch is available.
Local code execution in Microsoft Office results from an integer overflow that leads to a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122), enabling an attacker to run arbitrary code at the privilege level of the logged-in user. Affected products span multiple Windows and Mac release tracks including Office 2016, 2019, LTSC 2021, LTSC 2024, and Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise. No public exploit or CISA KEV listing is present in the available data; however, the complete high CIA triad and wide deployment footprint make this a priority patching target.
Stack-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Word enables arbitrary code execution when a victim opens a specially crafted document, affecting Word 2016 through Microsoft 365 Apps and Office LTSC 2024 on both Windows and macOS. The flaw (CWE-121) scores CVSS 7.8 with high impacts across confidentiality, integrity, and availability, constrained by local attack vector and mandatory user interaction. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis; a vendor patch is available via the Microsoft Security Response Center.
Stack-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office (CWE-121) enables local code execution across a broad range of affected builds including Office 2016, 2019, LTSC 2021, LTSC 2024, Office 365 for Mac, LTSC for Mac 2021/2024, and Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise. Exploitation requires user interaction - consistent with a maliciously crafted document delivery model - and achieves full confidentiality, integrity, and availability compromise within the Office process context. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis; a vendor-released patch is available via the MSRC advisory.
Local code execution in Microsoft Office is possible when a user opens a specially crafted document that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122), granting the attacker full control over the victim's user session. The vulnerability spans the entire modern Office portfolio - Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Office 2019, LTSC 2021, LTSC 2024, and macOS equivalents - making the attack surface exceptionally broad. No public exploit identified at time of analysis and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog; Microsoft has released patches for all affected product lines.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office Word enables arbitrary local code execution when a user opens a specially crafted document. The vulnerability spans a broad set of affected products across both Windows and macOS platforms, including Office LTSC 2021/2024, Office 2019, Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Office 365 for Mac, and Outlook 2016. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, though Microsoft has released a patch and the document-based delivery model is a proven and widely abused attack vector in enterprise phishing campaigns.
Out-of-bounds read (CWE-125) in Microsoft Office enables local code execution across a broad range of Office product editions on both Windows and macOS. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R) confirms the attack requires no privileges but does require a victim to open a crafted file, consistent with a malicious document delivery scenario. A patch has been released by Microsoft; no public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at the time of analysis, though the full CIA impact (C:H/I:H/A:H) and breadth of affected products make this a high-priority patching target for enterprise environments.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Office enables local code execution with high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Affecting Office 2016 through 2024, including LTSC and Microsoft 365 variants on both Windows and macOS, the vulnerability is triggered when a user opens a specially crafted document - requiring no privileges but mandatory user interaction (CVSS AV:L/UI:R). Patch is available from Microsoft; no public exploit identified at time of analysis.
Remote code execution in Microsoft Exchange Server stems from a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) exploitable by any network-accessible authenticated user with low privileges. Affected versions span Exchange Server 2016 CU23, 2019 CU14 and CU15, and the Subscription Edition - all major currently-supported release lines. Vendor patches are available, and no public exploit identified at time of analysis, though the low attack complexity and full CIA impact make this a critical patching priority for enterprise Exchange deployments.
Integer overflow in Microsoft .NET Framework and modern .NET runtimes enables local code execution with full process compromise (C:H/I:H/A:H) across a broad product surface spanning .NET Framework 3.5 through 4.8.1, .NET 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, and Visual Studio 2022 and 2026. An attacker who can deliver crafted input processed by a vulnerable .NET application can trigger arithmetic wraparound (CWE-190) to corrupt runtime memory and execute arbitrary code within the process context. Microsoft has released patches across all affected product lines; no public exploit identified at time of analysis, and no CISA KEV listing is present.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Desktop Window Manager (DWM) Core Library affects a broad range of Windows client and server editions spanning from Windows 10 1607 through Windows 11 26H1 and multiple Windows Server releases. An authenticated local attacker can exploit the overflow to gain full system-level privileges, achieving high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the compromised host. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and no active exploitation has been confirmed by CISA KEV, but the vendor has released patches addressing the affected builds.
Local code execution via heap-based buffer overflow in Windows GDI+ (Graphics Device Interface Plus) affects a wide range of Windows desktop and server editions from Windows Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2025. Any locally authenticated low-privilege user can trigger the overflow, gaining full control over confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the affected host. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, and the vulnerability does not appear in the CISA KEV catalog, but Microsoft has released patches across all affected version branches.
Privilege escalation in Microsoft .NET runtimes (8.0, 9.0, and 10.0) and Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 and 2026 results from a heap-based buffer overflow triggered by an integer overflow or wraparound condition in the runtime's memory handling. An unprivileged local user who interacts with a crafted input - such as a malicious file processed by a .NET application - can exploit the flaw to gain elevated privileges on the host system. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis and this CVE is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog; however, a vendor-released patch is available from Microsoft.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Win32K (win32k.sys) allows a low-privileged local user to achieve full SYSTEM-level control across a broad range of Windows and Windows Server releases. The vulnerability spans Windows 10 1607 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2012 through Server 2025, making the attack surface effectively ubiquitous across enterprise environments. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, but vendor-released patches are available via the Microsoft Security Response Center.
Privilege escalation through an out-of-bounds read in the Windows NTFS kernel driver (ntfs.sys) affects every major Windows desktop and server release from Windows Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2025. A locally authenticated standard user can trigger the memory read flaw to gain SYSTEM-level privileges, yielding full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog, but the low attack complexity, absence of required user interaction, and near-universal Windows deployment footprint make this a high-priority patch cycle item.
Remote code execution in the Windows DNS component allows an unauthenticated network attacker to run arbitrary code by triggering a stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-121). The flaw affects a broad range of Microsoft platforms from Windows 10 1607/1809 through Windows Server 2012 to Server 2025, including Server Core installations, and carries a CVSS 9.8 rating with no required privileges or user interaction. Microsoft has shipped fixes; there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and the issue is not listed in CISA KEV.
Privilege escalation via stack-based buffer overflow in the Windows Win32K kernel-mode subsystem enables a locally authenticated low-privileged user to gain SYSTEM-level access. Nineteen distinct Windows releases are confirmed affected, spanning Windows 10 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2012 through Server 2025. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis, though Win32K has historically been a favored target of APT actors and commodity malware for post-exploitation privilege escalation.
Privilege escalation via out-of-bounds read in the Windows Win32K kernel graphics subsystem affects every supported and extended-support Windows client and server release, from Windows Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1. Any locally authenticated standard user - requiring no elevated permissions or user interaction - can exploit CWE-125 in win32k.sys to obtain SYSTEM-level privileges. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis, though the breadth of affected builds across the Microsoft fleet makes this a broad patching priority regardless of active exploitation signals.
Heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) in Microsoft .NET enables local code execution across all actively supported .NET release streams (8.0, 9.0, 10.0) and associated Visual Studio tooling. The flaw requires user interaction - consistent with a file-processing or input-parsing trigger - but no elevated privileges, meaning an attacker can exploit it by inducing a user to open or process a maliciously crafted artifact within a vulnerable .NET context. Full confidentiality, integrity, and availability compromise of the affected process is possible on successful exploitation. No public exploit identified at time of analysis and no CISA KEV listing; Microsoft has released patches across all affected branches.
Stack-based buffer overflow in Microsoft's Remote Desktop Client (mstsc.exe) enables remote code execution on unpatched Windows 10 1607 and Windows Server 2012/2016 systems. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R) confirms the attack is network-delivered and requires no attacker privileges, but demands that a victim actively connect to an attacker-controlled RDP server - a meaningful but achievable social-engineering hurdle. Microsoft has released patches for all affected version branches; no public exploit identified at time of analysis.
Unauthenticated code execution in Windows DHCP Server allows an attacker positioned on an adjacent network segment to trigger a heap-based buffer overflow and achieve full system compromise. The vulnerability spans a wide range of Microsoft server and desktop platforms, from Windows Server 2012 through Windows Server 2025 and select Windows 10 builds, making it broadly relevant in Windows-centric enterprise environments. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis, but the low-complexity, zero-interaction exploitation profile and vendor-confirmed patch availability make this a high-priority patching candidate for any organization running Windows DHCP Server.
Remote code execution is possible in Windows GDI+ across a broad range of Windows 10, 11, and Windows Server versions due to an integer overflow that leads to a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122). Network-based attackers with no privileges required can exploit this by delivering a crafted image or graphic file, requiring only that the victim open or preview the content. A vendor patch is available via MSRC; no public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis.
Remote code execution in Windows DNS exposes a wide range of Windows Server and desktop systems to unauthenticated exploitation from adjacent network positions. Rooted in a CWE-787 out-of-bounds write triggered during DNS processing, the flaw carries a CVSS 8.8 score reflecting full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact with no credentials or user interaction required. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, but a vendor-released patch is available and the broad affected version list - spanning Windows 10/11 and Server 2019 through 2025 - makes prioritized patching urgent for any environment where the DNS service is internet-edge or internally exposed.
Heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Reliable Multicast Transport (RMCAST) kernel driver enables unauthenticated adjacent-network attackers to execute arbitrary code at kernel privilege level across a broad range of Windows desktop and server releases, from Server 2012 through Windows 11 version 26H1. The CVSS 8.8 rating reflects the zero-credential, zero-interaction exploitation path, constrained only by the requirement for network adjacency. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and the vulnerability does not currently appear in the CISA KEV catalog; a vendor-released patch with confirmed fixed build numbers is available via Microsoft MSRC.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows HTTP.sys kernel-mode driver affects Windows 11 (23H2 through 26H1) and Windows Server 2022/2025. An authenticated low-privileged local attacker can exploit this flaw to gain SYSTEM-level privileges on the target machine. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing is identified at time of analysis, but the low attack complexity (AC:L) and breadth of affected Windows builds make this a significant patching priority for organizations running vulnerable versions.
Remote code execution in Windows SMB Server is achievable by a network-authenticated attacker exploiting a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122). The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N) confirms that low-privileged, network-accessible credentials are sufficient - no user interaction or elevated rights are required. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Windows client and server releases from Windows Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H2 and Windows Server 2025, with vendor patches now available. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis.
Local privilege escalation in the Windows SMB Client on Windows 11 version 26H1 enables a low-privileged authorized attacker to gain SYSTEM-level control via a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122). The CVSS 7.8 (High) score reflects low attack complexity and no user interaction required once local access is established, with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the compromised host. No public exploit code and no active exploitation (CISA KEV) have been identified at time of analysis; a vendor patch raising build to 10.0.28000.2704 is available from Microsoft.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows NTFS driver enables a local authenticated attacker with standard user rights to gain SYSTEM-level control on affected Windows endpoints and servers. The vulnerability spans a wide swath of the Windows ecosystem, from Windows Server 2012 through Windows Server 2025 and Windows 11 26H1, making the aggregate exposure significant. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing is confirmed at time of analysis, but the low attack complexity (AC:L) and absence of user interaction (UI:N) mean that a working exploit would be highly reliable once developed.
Remote code execution via a stack-based buffer overflow in the Windows kernel TCP/IP driver (CWE-121) affects all major Windows client and server releases from Windows 10 1607 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2012 through 2025. An unauthenticated remote attacker who can deliver crafted TCP/IP packets to an exposed system may gain kernel-level code execution without requiring user interaction. No public exploit or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis, though the kernel-mode attack surface and network-accessible delivery make this a high-priority patching target; Microsoft has released patches for all affected platforms.
Remote code execution is achievable in Windows SMB Server via a heap-based buffer overflow exploitable by a low-privileged, authenticated network attacker. The vulnerability (CWE-122) spans a wide range of Microsoft Windows client and server releases from Windows Server 2012 through Windows Server 2025 and Windows 10/11. Microsoft has released patches via the MSRC update guide; no KEV listing or public exploit code is present in the available intelligence at time of analysis.
Heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows LDAP client implementation enables remote code execution against any Windows system that initiates an LDAP connection to an attacker-controlled server. The vulnerability spans an exceptionally wide set of affected Windows versions - from Windows Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2025 - making the potential attack surface very large. Microsoft has released patches via the standard update channel; no public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis, though the PR:N/UI:R vector and high CIAlll impact make this a credible priority for patching.
Remote code execution in Microsoft's Local Security Authority Server (lsasrv) affects virtually every supported Windows client and server release, from Windows Server 2012 through Server 2025 and Windows 10 through Windows 11 26H1. The heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) is reachable over the network by any low-privileged authenticated attacker - aligning with the CVSS PR:L designation and the description's 'authorized attacker' language - enabling full system compromise. No public exploit identified at time of analysis; vendor patch is available via MSRC.
Privilege escalation in the Windows Remote Access Connection Manager (RASMAN) service enables a low-privileged local attacker to achieve SYSTEM-level access through a heap-based buffer overflow. Affecting Windows 10 (from version 1809), Windows 11 (through version 26H1), Windows Server 2019 through Server 2025, this vulnerability requires only a valid local user account and no user interaction. Microsoft has released patches via MSRC; no public exploit code or confirmed active exploitation has been identified at time of analysis.
Remote information disclosure in the Windows SMB Client affects every actively-supported Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server release from 2016 through 2025, exposing potentially sensitive memory contents to unauthenticated network attackers via a CWE-125 out-of-bounds read (CVSS 7.5). The flaw resides in the SMB client stack and is triggered when a vulnerable Windows host processes a crafted response from an attacker-controlled SMB server, requiring no authentication or user interaction from the attacker's perspective. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis and CISA has not added this to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; however, the extraordinary breadth of affected products and the vendor-confirmed patch make this a standard patch-cycle priority.
Remote code execution via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows RPC Runtime affects every supported Windows desktop and server release from Windows 10 1607 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2012 through Server 2025. An unauthenticated remote attacker who can reach an exposed RPC endpoint can corrupt heap memory and achieve arbitrary code execution, yielding full confidentiality, integrity, and availability compromise of the target system. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis; however, the breadth of affected versions, combined with network accessibility and no authentication requirement, elevates operational priority for internet-facing and laterally-reachable Windows infrastructure.
Local privilege escalation in the Windows Container Isolation FS Filter Driver (unionfs.sys) allows an authenticated local attacker to gain SYSTEM-level privileges on affected Windows 11 26H1 systems. The vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow in the kernel driver, exploitable by a low-privileged user without any user interaction. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and Microsoft has released a patch addressing the issue.
Heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver (CldFlt.sys) enables a low-privileged local attacker to escalate to SYSTEM-level privileges across a broad range of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server releases. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N) confirms exploitation requires only a standard user account with no user interaction and no special configuration - a reliable post-access escalation primitive. Microsoft has released patches; no public exploit code or CISA KEV listing is present in the provided data.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Shell affects a broad range of Microsoft Windows desktop and server releases, from Windows 10 Version 1607 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2012 through Server 2025. A locally authenticated, low-privileged attacker can trigger heap corruption within the Windows Shell component to achieve full SYSTEM-level code execution with no user interaction required and low attack complexity. Microsoft has released patches across all affected version branches; no public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis.
Stack-based buffer overflow in Windows Installer enables local privilege escalation across a wide range of Microsoft Windows desktop and server editions. An authenticated low-privileged local user can exploit the flaw (CWE-121) to achieve SYSTEM-level code execution, with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the compromised host. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis; however, the low attack complexity and broad affected surface spanning Windows 10 through Windows 11 and Windows Server 2012 through 2025 make this a high-priority patching target.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Remote Access Connection Manager (RASMAN) service affects virtually every current and legacy Windows release from Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 and Server 2025. A low-privileged local attacker can overwrite heap memory to gain SYSTEM-level code execution on the target host without any user interaction. No public exploit code or active exploitation has been identified at time of analysis; however, Microsoft has confirmed and patched the vulnerability through the MSRC update guide.
Stack-based buffer overflow in the Windows DHCP Client service enables a low-privileged local attacker to elevate privileges to SYSTEM level with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The flaw spans virtually every supported Windows desktop and server release, from Windows Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2025, making the attack surface extremely broad in any environment where interactive or local logon access is possible. No public exploit code or active exploitation (CISA KEV) has been identified at time of analysis; Microsoft has released patches via the standard update guide.
Heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Kerberos authentication subsystem enables a locally authenticated attacker to elevate privileges to SYSTEM-level access across a broad range of Windows client and server releases. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) reflects full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact upon successful exploitation with low attack complexity once local access is established. Microsoft has released patches per MSRC advisory CVE-2026-62754; no public exploit code has been identified and the vulnerability has not appeared in the CISA KEV catalog at time of analysis.
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows HTTP.sys enables a locally authenticated, low-privileged attacker to escalate privileges on the affected host, likely achieving SYSTEM-level control. The flaw spans a wide range of Windows versions from Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1, representing substantial enterprise exposure despite requiring initial local access. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and Microsoft has released patched builds across all affected product lines via the MSRC advisory.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Kerberos affects the full breadth of supported Windows versions, from Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 and Server 2025. An attacker holding a valid low-privilege local account can trigger a heap corruption condition in the Kerberos implementation to achieve complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the compromised host - effectively gaining SYSTEM-level control. Vendor-released patches with exact fixed build numbers are available via Microsoft MSRC; no public exploit code or CISA KEV-confirmed active exploitation has been identified at time of analysis.
Local privilege escalation in Windows Projected File System (ProjFS) via an integer overflow allows an authenticated local user to gain full SYSTEM-level control over the affected host. The flaw spans a wide range of actively supported Windows releases - from Windows 10 21H2 through Windows 11 26H1, and both Windows Server 2022 and 2025 - making it a broadly applicable post-compromise escalation primitive. No public exploit code or active exploitation has been identified at time of analysis; Microsoft has released patched builds addressing the vulnerability.
Windows Device Association Service contains a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) that enables local privilege escalation on a broad swath of Windows client and server editions, from Windows 10 1607 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2016 through 2025. An attacker holding a standard low-privileged local account can exploit this flaw without any user interaction, achieving high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability - consistent with full SYSTEM-level compromise. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and no CISA KEV listing is present, but Microsoft has released patches and the low attack complexity (AC:L) makes this a reliable privilege escalation primitive once local foothold is established.
Privilege escalation via integer underflow in Windows HTTP.sys (the kernel-mode HTTP protocol stack) allows an authenticated local attacker to gain SYSTEM-level access on a broad range of Windows versions from Server 2012 through Server 2025 and Windows 10/11. The flaw is rooted in an integer wraparound condition (tagged by the reporter as a heap overflow mechanism) in the HTTP.sys kernel driver, enabling full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the affected host. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and Microsoft has released patches covering all affected version branches.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in Windows HTTP.sys affects a broad range of Windows 10, 11, and Windows Server releases. An attacker with low-level local access can exploit the CWE-122 flaw in the kernel-mode HTTP driver to achieve full system compromise - High confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, and Microsoft has released patches addressing this vulnerability across all affected version branches.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows DHCP Client affects Windows 11 (versions 23H2 through 26H1) and Windows Server 2025, allowing an authorized local attacker with low-level privileges to gain full SYSTEM-level control. The flaw carries a CVSS base score of 7.8 with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the local system. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, though Microsoft has released patches covering all affected build ranges.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in Windows HTTP.sys (a kernel-mode HTTP listener driver) allows a locally authenticated low-privilege attacker to gain SYSTEM-level access across a broad range of Windows client and server releases. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N) confirms exploitation requires only local authenticated access with no user interaction and low attack complexity, making this a practical post-compromise escalation primitive. No public exploit or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis, and Microsoft has released patches for all affected product lines.
Privilege escalation via an out-of-bounds read in the Windows Win32K kernel subsystem allows a local authenticated attacker to gain SYSTEM-level access across a broad range of Windows client and server versions. The CVSS 7.8 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N) reflects a low-complexity local attack with full C/I/A impact, meaning any low-privileged user or compromised process can exploit this to completely own the host. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis; however, the 19 affected Windows SKUs spanning Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 make this a high-priority patch cycle item - particularly for Remote Desktop and terminal server deployments where untrusted local sessions are common.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Telephony Service (TAPI) affects virtually all supported Windows client and server builds, from legacy Server 2012 through current Windows 11 25H2 and Server 2025. An authorized local user with standard low-privilege credentials can trigger the heap overflow in tapisrv to achieve SYSTEM-level access. No public exploit or CISA KEV listing exists at time of analysis; vendor-released patches are available across all 19 affected product SKUs per MSRC.
Privilege escalation via a time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition in the Windows Common Log File System (CLFS) Driver affects a broad range of Windows client and server versions from Server 2012 through Windows 11 25H2/26H1. A low-privileged local attacker can exploit the race window to gain SYSTEM-level access, achieving full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the host. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing is identified at time of analysis; vendor patch is available from Microsoft via the MSRC update guide.
Privilege escalation in the Windows Bind Filter Driver, a kernel-mode component present in Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025, stems from a heap-based buffer overflow that enables a locally authenticated user with standard privileges to gain SYSTEM-level control over the affected host. Affected builds span Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1, as well as Windows Server 2025 including Server Core installations, with patched builds confirmed by Microsoft via MSRC advisory CVE-2026-62722. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and the vulnerability has not been added to CISA's KEV catalog.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Message Queuing (MSMQ) allows a locally authenticated attacker with low privileges to gain SYSTEM-level access across a wide range of Microsoft Windows desktop and server editions. The flaw, classified as CWE-122, spans from Windows Server 2012 through Windows Server 2025 and Windows 10/11 across multiple feature update channels, making it broadly relevant in enterprise environments where MSMQ is deployed. Patch is available from Microsoft via the MSRC update guide; no public exploit or CISA KEV listing has been identified at the time of analysis.
Privilege escalation in Windows Message Queuing (MSMQ) allows a locally authenticated low-privileged attacker to achieve full system compromise via a heap-based buffer overflow. Confirmed affected across a broad range of Microsoft Windows desktop and server platforms, from Windows Server 2012 through Windows Server 2025 and Windows 10/11 all versions. No public exploit identified at time of analysis and no CISA KEV listing; however, the low attack complexity combined with universal Windows platform coverage makes this a meaningful post-exploitation or insider-threat vector.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver (cldflt.sys) allows a low-privileged local attacker to gain full SYSTEM-level control on affected Windows endpoints and servers. The vulnerability spans virtually all supported Windows versions, from Windows 10 1809 and Server 2019 through Windows 11 26H1 and Server 2025. No public exploit or CISA KEV listing is identified at time of analysis, but the low attack complexity (AC:L) and broad platform coverage make this a credible post-exploitation privilege escalation primitive for threat actors who have already obtained a local foothold.
Privilege escalation in Windows Win32K via a heap-based buffer overflow enables a locally authenticated attacker to gain SYSTEM-level access across a broad range of Microsoft operating systems from Windows Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2025. The flaw (CWE-122) requires only standard user privileges and no user interaction, making post-compromise escalation straightforward for any attacker who has already obtained local access. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, but the Microsoft Security Response Center has issued a patch and the wide affected product surface warrants urgent remediation.
Heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Device Association Service allows a locally authenticated, low-privileged attacker to escalate to SYSTEM-level privileges across a broad range of Windows desktop and server releases. Affected versions span Windows 10 1607 through Windows 11 25H2 and Windows Server 2016 through 2025, making this a high-coverage local privilege escalation. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, but vendor patches are available and should be applied immediately given the low attack complexity.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows NTFS kernel driver (ntfs.sys) affects virtually the entire Microsoft Windows product portfolio, from legacy Server 2012 through Windows 11 25H2 and Server 2025. A locally authenticated, low-privileged attacker can trigger memory corruption in ring-0 kernel space, resulting in full SYSTEM-level privilege acquisition on the target host. No public exploit code or active exploitation has been identified at time of analysis, and Microsoft has released patches across all affected product lines via the MSRC update guide.
Windows Storage in multiple Windows 11 and Windows Server releases contains a heap-based buffer overflow that allows any locally authenticated low-privilege user to escalate to SYSTEM-level access with no user interaction required. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) confirms this is a straightforward, low-complexity privilege escalation once an attacker has a local foothold - covering Windows 11 versions 23H2 through 26H1 and Windows Server 2022 and 2025. Microsoft has released patches across all affected product lines; no public exploit code and no CISA KEV listing have been identified at time of analysis.
Privilege escalation in Windows Remote Desktop Services stems from a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) that an authorized local attacker can exploit to gain full SYSTEM-level control of the affected host. The vulnerability spans an exceptionally wide range of Microsoft Windows versions - from Windows Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2025 - making the aggregate patch surface very large across enterprise fleets. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis; a vendor-released patch is available through the Microsoft Security Response Center.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows MIDI Service Module affects Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1 prior to their respective patched builds. An attacker with an existing low-privileged local account can exploit this flaw to achieve full SYSTEM-level access, gaining high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact with no user interaction required. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis; Microsoft has released patches via the MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-62688.
Local privilege escalation in Windows HTTP.sys enables authenticated local attackers to gain SYSTEM-level access across a sweeping range of Windows client and server releases, from Windows 10 1607 through Windows 11 25H2 and Windows Server 2012 through 2025. An integer overflow in the kernel-mode HTTP driver triggers a heap-based buffer overflow (consistent with both the CWE-122 classification and the vendor-applied 'Heap Overflow' tag), allowing an attacker with an existing low-privilege local foothold to corrupt kernel heap structures and achieve full code execution as SYSTEM. No public exploit code has been identified and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog at time of analysis, though the extremely broad affected surface and low attack complexity make timely patching a high priority for enterprise environments.
Local privilege escalation in the Windows Desktop Window Manager (DWM) Core Library enables any standard authenticated local user to gain full SYSTEM-level control across a wide range of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server deployments. The vulnerability arises from a type confusion condition in the DWM Core Library - though the CWE-122 classification and vendor tags ('Heap Overflow', 'Buffer Overflow') indicate the confusion likely manifests through or triggers a heap-based memory corruption primitive. Microsoft has released patches across all affected versions; no public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Kernel (CWE-122) affects a broad span of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server releases from 2016 through 2025. An authenticated local attacker exploiting this flaw can gain SYSTEM-level privileges, achieving full control over confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the target system. No public exploit code and no active exploitation (CISA KEV) have been identified at time of analysis; a vendor patch is available.
Privilege escalation via heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows USB Driver (CWE-122) affects a broad range of Microsoft Windows client and server platforms, from Windows Server 2012 through Windows 11 26H1 and Windows Server 2025. An authenticated local attacker with low privileges can exploit this kernel-mode heap corruption to achieve full system compromise - gaining complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability over the affected host. Microsoft has released patches across all affected versions via the MSRC advisory; no public exploit has been identified at time of analysis.
Out-of-bounds read in the Windows Remote Desktop Client component (CWE-125) exposes high-sensitivity memory contents to remote network attackers, enabling information disclosure across all supported Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2012 through 2025 releases. The vulnerability carries a CVSS 7.5 base score with a network attack vector and no privilege requirement per the official vector, though SSVC classifies exploitation as not automatable and technical impact as partial, suggesting real-world exploitation is constrained by the need for a user to initiate an RDP connection to an attacker-controlled server. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, EPSS places active exploitation probability at 0.85% (55th percentile), and a vendor-released patch is available via Microsoft MSRC.