Executive brief
A security vulnerability has been identified in the Windows Installer, a core component of the Windows operating system used to manage software installation and maintenance. 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
A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Windows Installer due to improper authorization (CWE-285). An attacker with low-privileged local access can exploit this flaw to gain SYSTEM-level privileges without requiring any user interaction. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Windows client and server versions, including Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2012. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue, and users are advised to apply the latest patches for their respective operating system versions.
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows 10 Versions 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2
- Microsoft Windows 11 Versions 24H2, 25H2, 26H1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Standard and Server Core installations
Timeline
- 2026-07-14: advisory: Initial disclosure by Microsoft and NVD publication