Executive brief
A security vulnerability has been identified in the Windows Installer, the standard service used by Windows to install and maintain software. 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 view sensitive data, delete files, or install malicious software with high-level permissions.
Technical details
This vulnerability is classified as a use-after-free (CWE-416) within the Windows Installer component. An attacker with low-privileged local access can exploit this flaw to execute code with elevated privileges, potentially reaching SYSTEM level. The attack requires a local presence and is characterized by high complexity, suggesting specific timing or environmental conditions are necessary for successful exploitation. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue across multiple versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2012.
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2
- Microsoft Windows 11 Version 24H2, 25H2, 26H1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Standard and Server Core installations
Timeline
- 2026-07-14: advisory: Initial disclosure by Microsoft and NVD publication.
- 2026-07-14: patched: Security updates made available via MSRC.