Description
Use after free in Windows Kernel allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Published: 2026-07-14
Score: 7.8 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Impact

The vulnerability is a use‑after‑free flaw in the DirectX graphics kernel that permits an authorized local user to gain kernel‑level privileges. Falling under CWE‑416, the flaw enables the execution of arbitrary code with elevated rights, thereby potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the affected system.

Affected Systems

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

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 7.8 indicates a high severity local impact, while the EPSS score of less than 1% suggests that exploitation is not widely observed at this time and the flaw is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. Based on the description, it is inferred that an attacker requires a legitimate local user with the ability to trigger the use‑after‑free condition in DirectX components, implying a local and non‑remote attack vector.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on July 31, 2026 at 06:26 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Apply the latest Windows security update that addresses CVE‑2026‑56644 for all affected Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server editions.
  • Restrict local user accounts to the least privileges necessary for their role, limiting the ability to trigger the use‑after‑free condition.
  • Enforce device‑control and least‑privilege policies to block execution of unauthorized DirectX components and reduce the impact of the kernel privilege escalation.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on July 31, 2026 at 06:26 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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


Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Use after free in Windows Kernel allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Title DirectX 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 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Microsoft windows Server 2016
Microsoft windows Server 2019
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 2025
Weaknesses CWE-416
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_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_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 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Microsoft windows Server 2016
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 1607 Windows 10 1809 Windows 10 21h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 26h1 Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 2022 Windows Server 2025
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: microsoft

Published:

Updated: 2026-07-30T20:27:04.550Z

Reserved: 2026-06-22T15:17:38.795Z

Link: CVE-2026-56644

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-07-14T18:47:46.361Z

cve-icon NVD

No data.

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-07-31T06:30:18Z

Weaknesses