Local privilege escalation via kernel use-after-free
Published Aug 11, 2026 · Updated Aug 25, 2026
Use-after-free in the Windows Kernel on affected Windows 11 and Server 2025 builds allows local users to gain elevated privileges. The kernel accesses memory after freeing it, but Microsoft has not disclosed the affected object, code path, or attacker-controlled trigger. A low-privileged user must execute code locally and satisfy high-complexity conditions; successful exploitation grants elevated privileges.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in the Windows Kernel on affected Windows 11 and Server 2025 builds allows local users to gain elevated privileges. The kernel accesses memory after freeing it, but Microsoft has not disclosed the affected object, code path, or attacker-controlled trigger. A low-privileged user must execute code locally and satisfy high-complexity conditions; successful exploitation grants elevated privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-62788
- Published
- Aug 11, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 25, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)
- Classifications
- CWE-416, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 25, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33296
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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