CVE-2026-85366: Microsoft Windows Installer heap buffer overflow privilege escalation

CVE-2026-85366 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-10-13

Windows Installer, a core Windows component responsible for software installation and updates, contains a heap buffer overflow vulnerability. An authorized local user can exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges on the system, potentially allowing them to access sensitive data or take full control of the computer.

Technologies: Microsoft Windows Installer. Vendors: Microsoft.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-85366 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-85366 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-85366?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 13 October 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Microsoft Windows Installer.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-85366?
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-2026-85366 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-85366?
Check whether you run Microsoft Windows Installer. 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 in the Windows Installer service allows a local authenticated attacker to corrupt memory and execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability requires prior local access to the system and a valid user account. This is a local privilege escalation vector that does not require network access.

Affected products

  • Microsoft Windows Installer

Timeline

  • 2026-10-13: disclosed

References

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