CVE-2026-62779

Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete

Use After Free in Windows Schannel Allows Local Privilege Escalation

Publication date: 2026-08-11

Last updated on: 2026-08-13

Assigner: Microsoft Corporation

Description

Use after free in Windows Schannel allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

Probability:
Percentile:

Meta Information

Published

2026-08-11

Last Modified

2026-08-13

Generated

2026-09-01

AI Q&A

2026-08-12

EPSS Evaluated

2026-08-30

NVD

CVE-2026-62779

EUVD

EUVD-2026-56383

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	to 10.0.26100.9106 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	to 10.0.26100.9106 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h1	to 10.0.28000.2704 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h1	to 10.0.28000.2704 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	to 10.0.26200.9106 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	to 10.0.26200.9106 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2025	to 10.0.26100.33222 (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 Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.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

Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a use-after-free issue in Windows Schannel, a component handling secure communications. An authorized attacker can exploit this to elevate their privileges locally on an affected system.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability involves a use-after-free issue in Windows Schannel. Detection typically requires analyzing system logs for crashes or memory corruption events related to Schannel. Use Event Viewer to check for application crashes or system errors in the Windows Logs section. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can also detect anomalous behavior. No specific commands are provided in the available resources.

Impact Analysis

An attacker could gain higher-level access to your system, allowing them to install programs, view or delete data, or create new accounts with full user rights. This is especially risky if the attacker already has basic access to your device.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability allows local privilege escalation in Windows Schannel, which could enable unauthorized access to sensitive systems. Such access may lead to data breaches or unauthorized modifications, potentially violating compliance requirements under GDPR, HIPAA, or other standards that mandate strict access controls and data protection measures.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest security updates from Microsoft to patch the Windows Schannel component. Monitor the Microsoft Security Response Center for updates and advisories related to CVE-2026-62779.

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