Description
Use after free in Windows Graphics Kernel allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Published: 2026-10-13
Score: 7 High
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: Local Privilege Escalation via use‑after‑free in Windows Graphics Kernel
Action: Immediate Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

The vulnerability is a classic use‑after‑free error in the Windows Graphics Kernel that allows an authorized user to execute code with elevated privileges locally. When the kernel incorrectly accesses memory that has been freed, a crafted payload can be injected, giving the attacker system level rights and full control over the machine. This can lead to installation of malware, bypassing of security controls, and ultimately complete compromise of the affected system.

Affected Systems

Affected customers include Microsoft Windows 10 versions 1607, 1809, 21H2, and 22H2; Windows 11 versions 23H2, 24H2, 25H2, 26H2, and 26H1; and Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025, including both standard and Server Core installations.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 7.0 indicates a high severity vulnerability. No exploitation probability score is available, and the flaw is not listed in CISA’s KEV catalog. The likely attack vector is local: an attacker who has the ability to run applications on the system—such as a user or process—could trigger the kernel error. Once exploited, the attacker gains full control, making the threat significant for organizations that rely on these Windows platforms.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 13, 2026 at 22:20 UTC.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Deploy the Windows security update that contains the fix for CVE-2026-102194 to all affected Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server installations via Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog.
  • If the update has not yet been released, mitigate the issue by restricting user access to the affected graphics drivers—disable hardware acceleration for non‑administrator accounts or replace the driver with the latest stable version that resolves the memory corruption.
  • Enable audit logging of privilege‑escalation events (e.g., AppLocker or UAC logs) and monitor for anomalous activity that may indicate exploitation attempts.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 13, 2026 at 22:20 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 22:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Tue, 13 Oct 2026 19:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Use after free in Windows Graphics Kernel allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Title Windows Graphics Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
First Time appeared Microsoft
Microsoft windows 10 1607
Microsoft windows 10 1809
Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Microsoft windows 11 Version 26h2 For Arm64-based Systems
Microsoft windows Server 2012
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft windows Server 2016
Microsoft windows Server 2019
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 2025
Weaknesses CWE-416
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:windows_11_version_26h2_for_arm64-based_systems:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26H1:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012_R2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Microsoft
Microsoft windows 10 1607
Microsoft windows 10 1809
Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Microsoft windows 11 Version 26h2 For Arm64-based Systems
Microsoft windows Server 2012
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft windows Server 2016
Microsoft windows Server 2019
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 2025
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C'}


Subscriptions

Microsoft Windows 10 1607 Windows 10 1809 Windows 10 21h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 11 23h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 26h1 Windows 11 Version 26h2 For Arm64-based Systems Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 2022 Windows Server 2025
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: microsoft

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-13T22:25:16.318Z

Reserved: 2026-09-28T18:20:51.762Z

Link: CVE-2026-102194

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-10-13T21:17:23.924Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-10-13T19:17:44.073

Modified: 2026-10-13T22:17:16.350

Link: CVE-2026-102194

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-13T22:30:14Z

Weaknesses