Description
Use after free in Windows Win32K allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Published: 2026-07-14
Score: 7.8 High
EPSS: 1.9% Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Impact

This vulnerability is a use‑after‑free flaw in the Windows Win32K graphics subsystem. An authorized local attacker can trigger the bug to gain higher privileges on the affected systems. Classified as CWE‑416, the weakness manifests when memory is accessed after being freed, which can lead to unauthorized execution of code or manipulation of system resources. The consequence is that a local user could elevate privileges, potentially achieving administrative rights or compromising system integrity.

Affected Systems

Microsoft Windows 10 releases 1809, 21H2, and 22H2; Windows 11 releases 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1; Windows Server 2019 (both full and Server Core installations); Windows Server 2022; Windows Server 2025 (including Server Core). Affected architectures include x86, x64, and arm64, depending on the specific release.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 7.8 indicates moderate‑to‑high severity for local privilege escalation. The EPSS score of 2% reflects a low but non‑negligible probability that this vulnerability will be exploited. It is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. Exploitation requires an authenticated local user with the ability to run code; the attack vector is strictly local. A maliciously crafted application or content executed during a user session can trigger the use‑after‑free in Win32K, but no remote exploitation path is documented.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on July 31, 2026 at 09:28 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Apply the Microsoft security update that addresses CVE-2026-54114 via Windows Update or the Microsoft Security Update Guide.
  • On Windows Server Core installations, use the command‑line tool 'sconfig' to enable automatic updates or download the update package from the Microsoft Security Update Guide and install it with DISM (e.g., `DISM /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:<path>`).
  • Configure AppLocker or a similar application control policy to allow only signed, trusted executables for local users, thereby restricting the execution of code that could trigger the use‑after‑free flaw.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on July 31, 2026 at 09:28 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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


Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Use after free in Windows Win32K allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Title Windows Win32k Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
First Time appeared Microsoft
Microsoft windows 10 1809
Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Microsoft windows Server 2019
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 2025
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_11_24H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26H1:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
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 1809
Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Microsoft windows Server 2019
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 2025
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 1809 Windows 10 21h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 26h1 Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 2022 Windows Server 2025
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: microsoft

Published:

Updated: 2026-07-30T20:22:32.905Z

Reserved: 2026-06-11T20:33:37.835Z

Link: CVE-2026-54114

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-07-15T10:48:30.541Z

cve-icon NVD

No data.

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-07-31T09:30:05Z

Weaknesses