Description
Use after free in Windows Storage VSP Driver allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Published: 2026-10-13
Score: 7.8 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Elevation of Privilege
Action: Apply Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

Use after free in the Windows Storage VSP Driver permits an authorized user to achieve local privilege escalation. The flaw allows the attacker to access freed memory, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or elevation of privileges. This vulnerability is classified as CWE‑416 and carries a CVSS score of 7.8, indicating a high risk for systems when exploited locally.

Affected Systems

The vulnerability affects numerous Microsoft Windows platforms. Specifically, Windows 10 versions 1607, 1809, 21H2, and 22H2; Windows 11 releases 23H2, 24H2, 25H2, 26H2, and 26H1; and Windows Server editions 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025, including both full and Server Core installations. All affected systems deploy the Windows Storage VSP Driver component susceptible to the use‑after‑free condition.

Risk and Exploitability

With a CVSS score of 7.8 the risk is significant, yet no EPSS data is available and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The attack vector is local, requiring an authenticated or otherwise authorized attacker who can manipulate the storage VSP Driver to trigger the freed memory access. Exploitation would need control over the driver interface, and the vulnerability does not allow for remote exploitation. Prompt patching remains the recommended defensive posture.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 14, 2026 at 07:55 UTC.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE‑2026‑85872, which resolves the use‑after‑free flaw in the Windows Storage VSP Driver.
  • Ensure that Windows Update is enabled and configured to automatically install cumulative updates for all Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server editions so the fix is applied without delay.
  • As a temporary countermeasure, disable or remove the Windows Storage VSP Driver through group policy or by uninstalling the driver package until the official update is installed, thereby eliminating the vulnerable component.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 14, 2026 at 07:55 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
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_11_26h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 15:00:00 +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
Microsoft windows 11 26h2
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 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Microsoft windows 11 26h2
Microsoft windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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


Tue, 13 Oct 2026 19:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Use after free in Windows Storage VSP Driver allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Title Windows Storage VSP Driver 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 11 Version 26h2 For X64-based Systems
Microsoft windows Server 2016
Microsoft windows Server 2019
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 2025
Weaknesses CWE-416
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:windows_11_version_26h2_for_x64-based_systems:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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_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 11 Version 26h2 For X64-based Systems
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:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/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 11 26h2 Windows 11 Version 26h2 For X64-based Systems 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: 2026-10-31T18:09:27.596Z

Reserved: 2026-09-04T18:18:19.324Z

Link: CVE-2026-85872

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-10-13T20:05:40.727Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-10-13T19:21:14.610

Modified: 2026-10-29T15:31:53.940

Link: CVE-2026-85872

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-24T14:45:13Z

Weaknesses