Local privilege escalation via invalid pointer release
Published Oct 13, 2026 · Updated Oct 13, 2026
Privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows 11, version 26H1 allows local users to gain higher privileges via a kernel memory-release error. The source identifies an invalid pointer or reference release in Windows Kernel but does not disclose the function, triggering input, or code path. Exploitation requires existing authorized local access; the available description does not identify the resulting privilege level.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows 11, version 26H1 allows local users to gain higher privileges via a kernel memory-release error. The source identifies an invalid pointer or reference release in Windows Kernel but does not disclose the function, triggering input, or code path. Exploitation requires existing authorized local access; the available description does not identify the resulting privilege level.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-85850
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 13, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft Corporation
- Product
- Windows 11, version 26H1
- Classifications
- CWE-763, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 13, 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=10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.3231
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.
Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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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