CVE-2026-25189 - Vulnerability Details

Description

Use after free in Windows DWM Core Library allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Published: 2026-03-10

Score: 7.8 High

EPSS: < 1% Very Low

KEV: No

Impact:

Action:

Analysis

Impact

An use‑after‑free flaw exists in the Windows DWM Core Library that allows an authorized local user to cause the kernel to execute code with higher privileges. This is a CWE‑416 vulnerability and can lead to arbitrary code execution and full control of the affected system by a local attacker.

Affected Systems

Microsoft products affected include Windows 10 versions 1809, 21H2, and 22H2; Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core); and Windows Server 2022. Version details are limited to the product listings provided in the CNA data; the vulnerability spans the operating systems listed in the known CPEs.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score is 7.8 indicating a high severity, while the EPSS score is below 1 % and the vulnerability is not currently in the CISA KEV catalog. The exploit requires a local, authorized user to trigger the use‑after‑free condition, so remote exploitation is not supported according to the available data.

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

Microsoft

Windows 10 Version 1809

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.17763.0`	affected	< 10.0.17763.8511

Microsoft

Windows 10 Version 21H2

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.19044.0`	affected	< 10.0.19044.7058

Microsoft

Windows 10 Version 22H2

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.19045.0`	affected	< 10.0.19045.7058

Microsoft

Windows Server 2019

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.17763.0`	affected	< 10.0.17763.8511

Microsoft

Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.17763.0`	affected	< 10.0.17763.8511

Microsoft

Windows Server 2022

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.20348.0`	affected	< 10.0.20348.4893

Configuration 1 [-]

OR	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:::::::x86:*
	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_server_2019::::::::
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022::::::::

No data.

Vendor Product Confidence Versions

Microsoft

Windows 10 1809

86%

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.17763.0,10.0.17763.8511)`	affected	generic	['32-bit_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows 10 21h2

86%

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.19044.0,10.0.19044.7058)`	affected	generic	['32-bit_systems', 'arm64-based_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows 10 22h2

86%

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.19045.0,10.0.19045.7058)`	affected	generic	['32-bit_systems', 'arm64-based_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2019

100%

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.17763.0,10.0.17763.8511)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation)

100%

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.17763.0,10.0.17763.8511)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2022

100%

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.20348.0,10.0.20348.4893)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

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Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

Apply the latest Windows security update for CVE‑2026‑25189 as published by Microsoft (see https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-25189).
If a patch is not yet available, restrict local user privileges, consider disabling or limiting DWM functionality, and monitor for suspicious activity that may indicate exploitation attempts.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on March 16, 2026 at 23:22 UTC.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories yet.

No CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

The EPSS score is 0.00049.

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

References

Link	Providers
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-25189

History

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:15:00 +0000

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
CPEs		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:*

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:15:00 +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 Server 2019 (server Core Installation)
Vendors & Products		Microsoft windows 10 21h2 Microsoft windows 10 22h2 Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation)

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

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description		Use after free in Windows DWM Core Library allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Title		Windows DWM Core Library Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
First Time appeared		Microsoft Microsoft windows 10 1809 Microsoft windows 10 21h2 Microsoft windows 10 22h2 Microsoft windows Server 2019 Microsoft windows Server 2022
Weaknesses		CWE-416
CPEs		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_server_2019:::::::: cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022::::::::
Vendors & Products		Microsoft Microsoft windows 10 1809 Microsoft windows 10 21h2 Microsoft windows 10 22h2 Microsoft windows Server 2019 Microsoft windows Server 2022
References		https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-25189
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 1809 Windows 10 21h2 Windows 10 21h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2022

MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: microsoft

Published: 2026-03-10T17:05:00.472Z

Updated: 2026-03-27T22:32:50.807Z

Reserved: 2026-01-29T18:36:49.696Z

Link: CVE-2026-25189

Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-03-11T13:02:16.352Z

NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-03-10T18:18:36.103

Modified: 2026-03-13T17:00:51.180

Link: CVE-2026-25189

Redhat

No data.

OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-03-20T14:34:27Z

Weaknesses

CWE-416

Impact

Affected Systems

Risk and Exploitability

Tracking

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

Subscriptions

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