# CVE-2026-83980: Microsoft Windows Biometric Service heap-based buffer overflow

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-83980-microsoft-windows-biometric-service-heap-based-buffer-overflow  
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-2026-83980 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-09-08

Windows Biometric Service is a core Windows system component responsible for fingerprint and facial recognition authentication. A heap-based buffer overflow in this service allows an authenticated local user to execute code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining full control of the system.

Technologies: [Microsoft Windows Biometric Service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows-biometric-service). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-83980 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-83980 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-83980?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 8 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Windows Biometric Service.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-83980?** 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-2026-83980 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-83980?** Check whether you run Microsoft Windows Biometric Service. 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 heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the Windows Biometric Service when processing biometric input data. The vulnerability requires an authenticated local attacker with user-level privileges to exploit. By providing specially crafted biometric data or parameters to the service, an attacker can overflow a heap buffer and achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the LocalSystem account, leading to complete privilege escalation. Microsoft has released security patches to address this issue.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows Biometric Service

## Timeline

- 2026-09-08: disclosed

## References

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-83980](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-83980)

## Related threats

- [Microsoft Windows Biometric Service heap buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-83988-microsoft-windows-biometric-service-heap-buffer-overflow)
- [Microsoft Windows Biometric Service heap buffer overflow privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-83987-microsoft-windows-biometric-service-heap-buffer-overflow)
- [Microsoft Windows Biometric Service heap buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-83985-microsoft-windows-biometric-service-heap-buffer-overflow)
- [Microsoft Windows Biometric Service heap buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-83981-microsoft-windows-biometric-service-heap-buffer-overflow)
- [Microsoft Windows Biometric Service heap overflow privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-83978-microsoft-windows-biometric-service-heap-overflow-privilege)