Executive brief
A security vulnerability has been identified in the Windows Clipboard Server, a component responsible for managing copy-and-paste operations across 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 access restricted files, install malicious software, or disrupt business operations.
Technical details
A use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) exists in the Windows Clipboard Server due to improper synchronization of shared resources, leading to a race condition (CWE-362). The flaw is triggered when the system attempts to access memory that has already been deallocated during clipboard operations. An attacker with local access and low-level privileges can exploit this to execute arbitrary code in a higher-privileged context, such as SYSTEM. The vulnerability is reachable via local attack vectors and does not require user interaction. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue across affected Windows and Windows Server versions.
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows 10 1809, 21H2, 22H2
- Microsoft Windows 11 24H2, 25H2, 26H1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019 All versions
- Microsoft Windows Server 2022 All versions
Timeline
- 2026-07-14: disclosed: Initial publication of the CVE record.
- 2026-07-14: advisory: Microsoft released the security update guide for this vulnerability.