Description
Use after free in Windows Win32K allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Published: 2026-08-11
Score: 7.8 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Impact

A use‑after‑free flaw in Windows Win32k allows a local, authorized attacker to execute code with higher privileges, potentially reaching SYSTEM level. The vulnerability is a classic example of CWE‑416, where freed memory is accessed after the object’s lifecycle has ended. If successfully exploited, the attacker could run arbitrary code, modify system configuration, or install persistent malware.

Affected Systems

Microsoft Windows 10 versions 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2; Windows 11 versions 23H2, 24H2, 25H2, 26H1; Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025, including Server Core installations. All listed Windows editions are affected, regardless of architecture (x86, x64, arm64).

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 7.8 indicates high severity. The EPSS score is currently not available, and the vulnerability is not present in the CISA KEV list. Exploitation requires an authenticated local session; a user with normal privileges can trigger the use‑after‑free fault by interacting with the Win32k component, potentially reaching SYSTEM level. Instances of active exploitation are not confirmed at this time, but the high severity warrants prompt remediation.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on August 12, 2026 at 13:46 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Apply the latest Microsoft security update that addresses CVE‑2026‑62711 via the Microsoft Security Update Guide.
  • If a patch cannot be applied immediately, limit the user’s privileges to the least necessary level and isolate or disable any applications that invoke the affected Win32k functionality.
  • Continuously monitor for signs of privilege escalation, such as unexpected SYSTEM‑level process creation or unauthorized policy changes, and keep the system inventory up to date with installed patches.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on August 12, 2026 at 13:46 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Microsoft windows Server 2012 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)
Vendors & Products Microsoft windows Server 2012 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
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_2012:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
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

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Tue, 11 Aug 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 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 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: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:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
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 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': 7.8, '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 21h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 11 23h2 Windows 11 23h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 26h1 Windows 11 26h1 Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2012 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2012 R2 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2022 Windows Server 2025 Windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: microsoft

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-31T20:06:44.691Z

Reserved: 2026-07-14T20:56:21.891Z

Link: CVE-2026-62711

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-08-12T13:46:48.472Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-08-11T17:18:21.157

Modified: 2026-08-16T19:16:54.710

Link: CVE-2026-62711

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-14T12:32:52Z

Weaknesses