Executive brief
A security vulnerability has been identified in the Windows NTFS file system, which is responsible for how the operating system stores and retrieves files on hard drives. An attacker who already has basic access to a computer could exploit this flaw to gain higher-level control and execute malicious code. This could lead to a full system compromise, allowing the attacker to view sensitive data or disrupt operations.
Technical details
This vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) located within the Windows NTFS driver. An attacker with low-privileged local access can trigger the overflow to execute arbitrary code in the context of the kernel or a highly privileged service. The attack vector is local, requiring the attacker to already have a foothold on the system, but it does not require user interaction. Successful exploitation results in a complete loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue across affected Windows and Windows Server versions.
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows 10 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2
- Microsoft Windows 11 24H2, 25H2, 26H1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 All versions
Timeline
- 2026-07-14: disclosed
- 2026-07-14: advisory