CVE-2026-26165
Use-After-Free in Windows Shell Enables Local Privilege Escalation
Publication date: 2026-04-14
Last updated on: 2026-04-24
Assigner: Microsoft Corporation
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| microsoft | windows_11_23h2 | to 10.0.22631.6936 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_23h2 | to 10.0.22631.6936 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_24h2 | to 10.0.26100.8246 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_24h2 | to 10.0.26100.8246 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_25h2 | to 10.0.26200.8246 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_25h2 | to 10.0.26200.8246 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_26h1 | to 10.0.28000.1836 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_11_26h1 | to 10.0.28000.1836 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_server_2022 | to 10.0.20348.5020 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_server_2022_23h2 | to 10.0.25398.2274 (exc) |
| microsoft | windows_server_2025 | to 10.0.26100.32690 (exc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| 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 Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.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 Shell component. It allows an authorized attacker to execute code that elevates their privileges locally on the affected system.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
An attacker who exploits this vulnerability can gain elevated privileges on the local system. This means they could perform actions that normally require higher permissions, potentially leading to full control over the affected machine.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
The vulnerability allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally through a use after free in Windows Shell.
Such elevation of privilege vulnerabilities can potentially impact compliance with standards like GDPR and HIPAA by increasing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data.
However, no specific information is provided about direct effects on compliance with these regulations.