Executive brief
A security vulnerability has been identified in the Windows Runtime, a core component of the Windows operating system used by modern applications. An attacker who already has basic access to a computer could exploit this flaw to gain full administrative control over the system. This could allow them to access sensitive data, install malicious software, or disrupt business operations.
Technical details
A use-after-free (CWE-416) vulnerability exists within the Windows Runtime (WinRT) component. The flaw is triggered when the system incorrectly manages memory objects, allowing an attacker to reuse a memory pointer after it has been freed. To exploit this, an attacker must have local access to the target system with low-level user privileges. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to escape the current security context and execute code with elevated system privileges. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue across affected versions of Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025.
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 to 10.0.26100.8875
- Microsoft Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 to 10.0.26200.8875
- Microsoft Windows 11 Version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 to 10.0.28000.2269
- Microsoft Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 to 10.0.26100.33158
Timeline
- 2026-07-14: disclosed
- 2026-07-14: advisory