CVE-2026-72961

Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete

Out-of-Bounds Read in Windows Hyper-V

Publication date: 2026-09-08

Last updated on: 2026-09-21

Assigner: Microsoft Corporation

Description

Out-of-bounds read in Windows Hyper-V allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

Probability:
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Meta Information

Published

2026-09-08

Last Modified

2026-09-21

Generated

2026-09-29

AI Q&A

2026-09-10

EPSS Evaluated

2026-09-27

NVD

CVE-2026-72961

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
microsoft	windows_10_1607	to 10.0.14393.9512 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_1607	to 10.0.14393.9512 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_1809	to 10.0.17763.9245 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_1809	to 10.0.17763.9245 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	to 10.0.19044.7725 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	to 10.0.19044.7725 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	to 10.0.19044.7725 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	to 10.0.19045.7725 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	to 10.0.19045.7725 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	to 10.0.19045.7725 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_23h2	to 10.0.22631.7582 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_23h2	to 10.0.22631.7582 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	to 10.0.26100.9445 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	to 10.0.26100.9445 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	to 10.0.26200.9445 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	to 10.0.26200.9445 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h1	to 10.0.28000.2954 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h1	to 10.0.28000.2954 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2025	to 10.0.26100.33438 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2016	to 10.0.14393.9512 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2019	to 10.0.17763.9245 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2022	to 10.0.20348.5622 (exc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-122	A heap overflow condition is a buffer overflow, where the buffer that can be overwritten is allocated in the heap portion of memory, generally meaning that the buffer was allocated using a routine such as malloc().

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Windows Hyper-V. It allows an authorized attacker with local access to elevate their privileges on the system. The flaw occurs when Hyper-V improperly handles memory operations, enabling the attacker to read beyond allocated memory boundaries and potentially execute arbitrary code with higher privileges.

Impact Analysis

If you are running Windows with Hyper-V enabled, an attacker with local access to your system could exploit this to gain elevated privileges. This could allow them to install programs, view or delete data, or create new accounts with full user rights. The impact is higher if the system handles sensitive data or is part of a larger network.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access or data breaches, which may violate compliance requirements such as GDPR (data protection) or HIPAA (health information privacy). Organizations must ensure systems are patched to maintain compliance and avoid potential legal or financial penalties.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest security updates from Microsoft for Windows Hyper-V to patch the out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Monitor Microsoft's advisory for patches and install them promptly.

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