Executive brief
A security vulnerability exists in the Windows Clipboard Server, a component responsible for managing copied data across the operating system. An attacker who already has basic access to a computer could exploit this flaw to gain higher-level administrative privileges. This could allow them to take full control of the system, access sensitive files, or bypass security restrictions.
Technical details
This vulnerability is a race condition (CWE-362) and use-after-free (CWE-416) issue within the Windows Clipboard Server. The flaw stems from improper synchronization when multiple processes or threads access shared resources simultaneously. An attacker with local access and low privileges can exploit this timing issue to execute code in a higher-privileged context. The attack requires a specific set of conditions to be met (high complexity) but does not require user interaction. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue across affected Windows and Windows Server versions.
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows 10 1809, 21H2, 22H2
- Microsoft Windows 11 24H2, 25H2, 26H1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019 All versions
- Microsoft Windows Server 2022 All versions
Timeline
- 2026-07-14: disclosed
- 2026-07-14: advisory