CVE-2026-69882
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Untrusted Search Path in Windows Update Allows Privilege Escalation

Publication date: 2026-10-13

Last updated on: 2026-10-13

Assigner: Microsoft Corporation

Description
Untrusted search path in Windows Update allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-10-13
Last Modified
2026-10-13
Generated
2026-10-19
AI Q&A
2026-10-14
EPSS Evaluated
2026-10-18
NVD
CVE-2026-69882
EUVD
EUVD-2026-99290

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 8 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
Microsoft Windows 11 version 23H2 10.0.22631.0
Microsoft Windows 11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.0
Microsoft Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0
Microsoft Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0
Microsoft Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0
Microsoft Windows 11 Version 26H2 10.0.26300.0
Microsoft Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0
Microsoft Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-426 The product searches for critical resources using an externally-supplied search path that can point to resources that are not under the product's direct control.

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability involves an untrusted search path in Windows Update. An authorized attacker with local access can exploit this to elevate their privileges on the system.

Impact Analysis

An attacker could gain higher-level permissions on your system, allowing them to install programs, view or delete data, or create new accounts with full user rights.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability allows local privilege escalation through Windows Update, which could enable unauthorized access to sensitive systems. This may impact compliance by potentially exposing personal or health data, violating confidentiality requirements in GDPR or HIPAA if exploited.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest Windows Update patches immediately to address the untrusted search path issue in Windows Update. Monitor Microsoft's security advisories for updates and ensure all systems are updated to the latest version.

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