Windows USB Driver: Heap-based buffer overflow allows privilege escalation
Summary
A heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows USB driver allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges. Exploitation requires physical access to the affected system, but the attack is low complexity and needs no privileges or user interaction. CVSS 6.8 (MEDIUM) is the CNA score; VulDB rates it 8.8 with CWE-120.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (builds 10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (builds 10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (builds 10.0.19044.0 to before 10.0.19044.7846)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (builds 10.0.19045.0 to before 10.0.19045.7846, per secondary source)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 (builds 10.0.22631.0 to before 10.0.22631.7711)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 (builds 10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 (builds 10.0.26200.0 to before 10.0.26200.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 26H1 (builds 10.0.28000.0 to before 10.0.28000.3501)
- Windows 11 Version 26H2 (builds 10.0.26300.0 to before 10.0.26300.9974)
- Windows Server 2016 incl. Server Core (builds 10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows Server 2019 incl. Server Core (builds 10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (builds 10.0.20348.0 to before 10.0.20348.5870)
- Windows Server 2025: unverified, not listed in the CNA record
Fixed in
- November 2026 Patch Tuesday cumulative updates for the listed builds (fixed builds: 10.0.14393.9688, 10.0.17763.9487, 10.0.19044.7846, 10.0.19045.7846, 10.0.22631.7711, 10.0.26100.9974, 10.0.26200.9974, 10.0.26300.9974, 10.0.28000.3501, 10.0.20348.5870)
- KB numbers: Unknown.
- Fixed builds for Windows 11 24H2/25H2 and Server 2022 should be confirmed against MSRC.
Workaround
No workaround documented. Unknown.
- Until patched, restrict physical access to affected devices.
Exploitation
- NVD status: Awaiting Analysis.
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- No known exploitation and no public proof of concept found at the time of research.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 cumulative update on all listed Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server systems, prioritising shared, kiosk, reception and laptop devices.
- Lock unattended workstations and restrict who can connect USB devices.
- Consider USB device-control policies on endpoints.
- Verify installed build numbers after patching.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows USB 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)
- KB5131291, KB5131085, KB5131096, KB5131090, KB5131087, KB5132061
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-122167 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record: CVE-2026-122167 www.cve.org
- VulDB: CVE-2026-122167 vuldb.com
- Strix.ai: CVE-2026-122167 (secondary, unverified) www.strix.ai
- IT-Connect: Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.it-connect.tech
- NTCompatible: Microsoft November 2026 Patch Tuesday www.ntcompatible.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 11 Nov 2026, 10:34.
Original description (NVD)
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows USB 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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