CVE-2026-25178
Received
Received - Intake
Use-After-Free in Windows WinSock Driver Enables Local Privilege Escalation
Publication date: 2026-03-10
Last updated on: 2026-03-13
Assigner: Microsoft Corporation
Description
Description
Use after free in Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
| Probability: | |
| Percentile: |
Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| microsoft | windows_server_2012 | r2 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2012 | * |
| microsoft | windows_10_1809 | to 10.0.17763.8511 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_10_1809 | to 10.0.17763.8511 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_10_21h2 | to 10.0.19044.7058 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_10_21h2 | to 10.0.19044.7058 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_10_21h2 | to 10.0.19044.7058 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_10_22h2 | to 10.0.19045.7058 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_10_22h2 | to 10.0.19045.7058 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_10_22h2 | to 10.0.19045.7058 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_23h2 | to 10.0.22631.6783 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_23h2 | to 10.0.22631.6783 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_24h2 | to 10.0.26100.7979 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_24h2 | to 10.0.26100.7979 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_25h2 | to 10.0.26200.7979 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_25h2 | to 10.0.26200.7979 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_26h1 | to 10.0.28000.1719 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_26h1 | to 10.0.28000.1719 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_server_2016 | to 10.0.14393.8957 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_server_2019 | to 10.0.17763.8511 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_server_2022 | to 10.0.20348.4830 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_server_2022_23h2 | to 10.0.25398.2207 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_10_1607 | to 10.0.14393.8957 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_10_1607 | to 10.0.14393.8957 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_server_2025 | to 10.0.26100.32463 (exc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
KEV
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-416 | The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability is a use-after-free issue in the Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock. It allows an authorized attacker to elevate their privileges locally on the affected system.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain higher privileges on the local system than they are normally allowed. This elevation of privilege can lead to unauthorized actions, potentially compromising system security and integrity.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
I don't know
How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
I don't know
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
I don't know
Ask Our AI Assistant
Need more information? Ask your question to get an AI reply (Powered by our expertise)
0/70