Executive brief
A security vulnerability has been identified in the Microsoft Windows Search Component, which is responsible for indexing and searching files on the operating system. 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, install malicious software, or disrupt business operations.
Technical details
A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-122) exists in the Microsoft Windows Search Component. The flaw is triggered when the component improperly handles memory allocation during search operations. An attacker with low-privileged local access can exploit this by running a specially crafted application to overwrite adjacent memory, leading to arbitrary code execution with SYSTEM privileges. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue.
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: Initial publication by Microsoft and NVD
- 2026-07-14: advisory