# CVE-2026-69611: Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk Miniport Driver use-after-free privilege escalation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-69611-microsoft-virtual-hard-disk-miniport-driver-use-after-free  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-08. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-69611 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-09-08

The Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) Miniport Driver is a Windows component that manages virtual disk storage. A use-after-free vulnerability allows an authorized local user to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining full control of the system.

Technologies: [Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk Miniport Driver](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/virtual-hard-disk-miniport-driver). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-69611 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-69611 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-69611?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 8 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk Miniport Driver.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-69611?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-69611 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-69611?** Check whether you run Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk Miniport Driver. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A use-after-free vulnerability exists in the Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) Miniport Driver, a kernel-mode component responsible for VHD device management. The vulnerability allows an authenticated local attacker to trigger memory access after it has been freed, enabling arbitrary code execution with kernel-level privileges. The attack requires local system access and valid credentials; remote exploitation is not possible. Successful exploitation grants the attacker privileges to execute arbitrary kernel-mode code and achieve complete system compromise. A patch is expected to be available through Microsoft's security update process.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk Miniport Driver

## Timeline

- 2026-09-08: disclosed

## References

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-69611](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-69611)

## Related threats

- [Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk Miniport Driver stack buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119849-stack-based-buffer-overflow-in-virtual-hard-disk-vhd-miniport)
- [Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk Miniport Driver heap buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-103555-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-virtual-hard-disk-vhd-miniport)