Microsoft Windows HID Class Driver: Use-after-free allows privilege escalation
Summary
A use-after-free flaw in the Windows HID Class Driver allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges. The attack requires physical access to the device and high attack complexity, and no prior privileges are needed. Remote exploitation is not possible. Several Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server versions are affected, including Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (builds before 10.0.14393.9612)
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (builds before 10.0.17763.9376)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (builds before 10.0.19044.7807)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (builds before 10.0.19045.7807)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 (builds before 10.0.22631.7652)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 (builds before 10.0.26100.9711)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 (builds before 10.0.26200.9711)
- Windows 11 Version 26H1 (builds before 10.0.28000.3231)
- Windows 11 Version 26H2 (builds before 10.0.26300.9711)
- Windows Server 2012 R2, including Server Core (builds before 6.3.9600.23470)
- Windows Server 2016, including Server Core (builds before 10.0.14393.9612)
- Windows Server 2019 (builds before 10.0.17763.9376)
Fixed in
- Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016: build 10.0.14393.9612 (KB5126868, released 13 October 2026)
- Other versions: fixed in the builds listed above as the first non-affected build. Check the MSRC advisory for the exact update per build.
Workaround
Unknown. No workaround is documented in the sources. Patching is the primary fix.
- Interim measures (own recommendation, not from sources): restrict physical access to unattended and shared PCs, enforce automatic screen lock, and limit or disable unused USB ports via policy where feasible.
Exploitation
- Not confirmed as exploited in the wild in the sources reviewed.
- No public proof of concept found.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- CISA KEV listing: not confirmed.
- EPSS is very low (about 0.003).
Our recommendation
- Apply the October 2026 security update to all affected Windows hosts, starting with Windows 10 1607 and Windows Server 2016 systems.
- Prioritise legacy hosts in reception areas, meeting rooms, kiosks and server rooms.
- Restrict physical access to devices and enable automatic screen lock.
- Verify update status after deployment.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday October 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – HID class driver
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5126646, KB5127646, KB5126836, KB5126868, KB5126651, KB5126657
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-105006 msrc.microsoft.com
- Vulners: CVELIST CVE-2026-105006 vulners.com
- Strix: CVE-2026-105006 www.strix.ai
- Action1: Patch Tuesday October 2026 www.action1.com
- Baselinewatch: Microsoft vulnerabilities baselinewatch.org
- VulDB: vuln 418066 vuldb.com
- threatint: CVE-2026-105006 cve.threatint.com
- Tenable plugin 365467 www.tenable.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 5 Nov 2026, 17:57.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in HID class driver allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges with a physical attack.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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