Executive brief
A security vulnerability has been identified in the Windows Kernel, the core component of the Microsoft Windows operating system. This flaw allows a user who already has basic access to a computer to gain full administrative control over the system. An attacker could use this to bypass security restrictions, access sensitive data, or install malicious software across the entire machine.
Technical details
A heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) exists in the Windows Kernel. The vulnerability is triggered when the kernel improperly handles memory allocation in the heap, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory. An attacker with low-privileged local access can exploit this flaw to execute code in kernel mode, leading to a full privilege escalation (LPE). The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 8.8, reflecting its high impact and the fact that it can result in a scope change, potentially affecting the entire system. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue across various versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2012.
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows 10 Versions 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2
- Microsoft Windows 11 Versions 24H2, 25H2, 26H1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 All editions including Server Core
Timeline
- 2026-07-14: disclosed
- 2026-07-14: advisory