CVE-2026-65776

Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete

Use After Free in Windows Win32K Kernel Driver

Publication date: 2026-08-11

Last updated on: 2026-08-13

Assigner: Microsoft Corporation

Description

Use after free in Windows Win32K 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-2026-65776

EUVD

EUVD-2026-56730

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 Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.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 Win32K, a core component of the Windows operating system. 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 Win32K, which may allow local privilege escalation. Detection typically requires monitoring for unusual system behavior or crashes related to Win32K components. Check Windows Event Viewer for kernel-mode crashes or errors in Win32K logs. Use tools like Process Monitor or Windows Defender for suspicious activity.

Impact Analysis

An attacker with local access could exploit this to gain higher privileges, 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, which could enable unauthorized access to sensitive data or system functions. This may impact compliance with standards like GDPR or HIPAA by increasing the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access to protected health or personal information.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest security updates from Microsoft to patch the Win32K vulnerability. Monitor Microsoft's security advisories for updates and ensure all systems are updated promptly.

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