Description
Deserialization of untrusted data in Windows System Image Manager allows an authorized attacker to execute code locally.
Published: 2026-03-10
Score: 7.8 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Local Code Execution
Action: Immediate Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

The vulnerability is a deserialization flaw in Windows System Image Manager that allows an attacker with local authorization to execute arbitrary code. This flaw is classified as CWE‑502 and, if exploited, would enable the attacker to run code with the permissions of the user, potentially compromising system integrity and allowing further lateral movement.

Affected Systems

The flaw affects Microsoft Windows ADK for Windows 10 version 2004, Windows 11 versions 22H2, 23H2, 24H2 and Windows Server 2022 ADK. It also includes Windows 10 ADK 2004 and Windows Server 2022 ADK. Any installations of these components are susceptible.

Risk and Exploitability

With a CVSS score of 7.8 the vulnerability is of moderate‑high severity. The EPSS score of below 1% indicates low likelihood of exploitation, and it is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The attack vector is inferred to be local; an attacker must be authorized on the system to exploit it. In the absence of a remote vector, the vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems that run the affected ADK components.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on March 24, 2026 at 03:29 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE‑2026‑25166 as listed in the Microsoft Update Guide
  • If the update is not yet available, remove or disable the Windows ADK components until the patch is released
  • Verify that no vulnerable ADK versions are installed by checking product version information
  • Ensure all affected Windows builds receive the latest cumulative updates after the patch
  • Monitor Microsoft security advisories for any follow‑up notices or additional mitigations

Generated by OpenCVE AI on March 24, 2026 at 03:29 UTC.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 02:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Microsoft windows 10 Adk Version 2004
Microsoft windows 11 Adk 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 Adk 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 Adk 24h2
Microsoft windows Server 2022 Adk
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
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_11_26H1:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_adk_version_2004:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_adk_22H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_adk_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_adk_24H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022_adk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products 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 Server 23h2
Microsoft windows 10 Adk Version 2004
Microsoft windows 11 Adk 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 Adk 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 Adk 24h2
Microsoft windows Server 2022 Adk

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Microsoft windows Server 2022 23h2
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
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_24h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Microsoft windows Server 2022 23h2

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 22:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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


Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 22h3
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Microsoft windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2022, 23h2 Edition (server Core Installation)
Vendors & Products Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 22h3
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Microsoft windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2022, 23h2 Edition (server Core Installation)

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Deserialization of untrusted data in Windows System Image Manager allows an authorized attacker to execute code locally.
Title Windows System Image Manager Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) Remote Code Execution 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 Server 2016
Microsoft windows Server 2019
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 23h2
Weaknesses CWE-502
CPEs 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:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
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_11_26H1:*:*:*:*:*:*: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_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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 Server 2016
Microsoft windows Server 2019
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 23h2
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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 10 Adk Version 2004 Windows 11 22h3 Windows 11 23h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 26h1 Windows 11 Adk 22h2 Windows 11 Adk 23h2 Windows 11 Adk 24h2 Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2022 Windows Server 2022, 23h2 Edition (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2022 23h2 Windows Server 2022 Adk
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: microsoft

Published:

Updated: 2026-03-27T22:32:37.713Z

Reserved: 2026-01-29T18:36:49.695Z

Link: CVE-2026-25166

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-03-11T14:49:38.581Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-03-10T18:18:29.947

Modified: 2026-03-13T18:49:41.600

Link: CVE-2026-25166

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-03-24T10:39:57Z

Weaknesses