CVE-2026-88188

Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete

Out-of-Bounds Read in Windows DWM Core Library

Publication date: 2026-10-13

Last updated on: 2026-10-16

Assigner: Microsoft Corporation

Description

Out-of-bounds read in Windows DWM Core Library allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

Probability:
Percentile:

Meta Information

Published

2026-10-13

Last Modified

2026-10-16

Generated

2026-10-19

AI Q&A

2026-10-14

EPSS Evaluated

2026-10-18

NVD

CVE-2026-88188

EUVD

EUVD-2026-100113

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
microsoft	windows_server_2022	to 10.0.20348.5761 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_1607	to 10.0.14393.9612 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_1607	to 10.0.14393.9612 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_1809	to 10.0.17763.9376 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_1809	to 10.0.17763.9376 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	to 10.0.19044.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	to 10.0.19044.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	to 10.0.19044.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_23h2	to 10.0.22631.7652 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_23h2	to 10.0.22631.7652 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	to 10.0.26100.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	to 10.0.26100.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	to 10.0.26200.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	to 10.0.26200.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h2	to 10.0.26300.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h2	to 10.0.26300.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2016	to 10.0.14393.9612 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2019	to 10.0.17763.9376 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2025	to 10.0.26100.33650 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	to 10.0.19045.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	to 10.0.19045.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	to 10.0.19045.7807 (exc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-125	The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the Windows Desktop Window Manager (DWM) Core Library. An authorized attacker with local access can exploit this flaw to elevate their privileges on the system.

Detection Guidance

Detection requires monitoring for unusual privilege escalation attempts or out-of-bounds read patterns in the Windows DWM Core Library. Use Windows Event Viewer to check for suspicious logs under Security and System categories. Microsoft Defender ATP or third-party EDR tools can detect anomalous behavior.

Impact Analysis

An attacker could gain higher-level permissions on your system, potentially 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 an out-of-bounds read in the Windows DWM Core Library. While not directly impacting data protection standards like GDPR or HIPAA, unauthorized privilege escalation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, potentially violating compliance requirements for data confidentiality and integrity.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest security updates from Microsoft to patch the out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the Windows DWM Core Library. Monitor Microsoft's update guide for the official patch release.

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