# CVE-2026-72961: Microsoft Windows Hyper-V out-of-bounds read privilege escalation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-72961-microsoft-windows-hyper-v-out-of-bounds-read-privilege-escalation  
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-2026-72961 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.2 · Published 2026-09-08

Windows Hyper-V is Microsoft's virtualization platform used to run virtual machines on Windows servers. An authorized attacker with local access to a Hyper-V host system can trigger an out-of-bounds memory read vulnerability that allows them to escalate their privileges to a higher level of system access, potentially compromising the security of all virtual machines and data managed by that host.

Technologies: [Microsoft Windows Hyper-V](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows-hyper-v). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-72961 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-72961 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-72961?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.2, published 8 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Windows Hyper-V <UNKNOWN>.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-72961?** 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-2026-72961 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-72961?** Check whether you run Microsoft Windows Hyper-V at an affected version. 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

This vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read in the Windows Hyper-V hypervisor. The flaw allows an authorized local attacker to read memory outside intended boundaries, which can be leveraged to escalate privileges on the Hyper-V host system. The attack requires local access to the host and authenticated privileges to interact with Hyper-V. Exploitation enables privilege escalation from an authenticated local account to a higher privilege level. A patch is available from Microsoft and should be applied as soon as possible to affected systems.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows Hyper-V <UNKNOWN>

## Timeline

- 2026-09-08: disclosed

## References

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-72961](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-72961)

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- [Windows Hyper-V access control spoofing vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119959-improper-access-control-in-windows-hyper-v-allows-an-authorized)
- [Windows Hyper-V use-after-free privilege elevation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119826-use-after-free-in-windows-hyper-v-allows-an-authorized-attacker)