Executive brief
A security vulnerability has been identified in the Windows Kernel Mode Driver, a core component of the Windows operating system that manages hardware and system-level operations. 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
This vulnerability is classified as a Use-After-Free (CWE-416) within the Windows Kernel Mode Driver. The flaw occurs when the driver continues to use a pointer to a memory location after it has been freed, leading to memory corruption or arbitrary code execution in kernel mode. An attacker must have local access and be authenticated with low privileges to exploit this issue. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to bypass security boundaries and gain elevated privileges (SYSTEM). Microsoft has released security updates to address this vulnerability across affected versions of Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025.
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 10.0.26100.8875
- Microsoft Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 to 10.0.28000.2525
- Microsoft Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 to 10.0.26100.33158
Timeline
- 2026-07-14: disclosed
- 2026-07-14: advisory