Windows: Use-after-free in Storage component allows local privilege escalation
Summary
A use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416, CWE-362 race condition) in the Windows Storage component allows an authorized, low-privileged local user to elevate privileges. The attack is hard to carry out and requires no user interaction. A successful attacker could gain full control over confidentiality, integrity and availability of the affected system.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1809 and Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core): builds 10.0.17763.0 to below 10.0.17763.9376
- Windows 10 Version 21H2: builds below 10.0.19044.7807
- Windows 10 Version 22H2: builds below 10.0.19045.7807
- Windows Server 2022: builds below 10.0.20348.5761
- Windows 11 23H2: builds below 10.0.22631.7652
- Windows 11 24H2 and 26300 branch (26H2): builds below 10.0.26100.9711 and 10.0.26300.9711
- Windows 11 25H2: builds below 10.0.26200.9711
- Windows 11 26H1: builds below 10.0.28000.3231
- Windows Server 2025 (including Server Core): builds below 10.0.26100.33650
- Note: the NVD CPE lists only Windows 10 1809, while the CNA data covers the editions above.
Fixed in
- Windows 10 Version 1809 / Windows Server 2019: 10.0.17763.9376 (KB5126651, October 2026 security update, not verified on the Update Catalog)
- Windows 10 21H2: 10.0.19044.7807
- Windows 10 22H2: 10.0.19045.7807
- Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.5761
- Windows 11 23H2: 10.0.22631.7652
- Windows 11 24H2 / 26H2: 10.0.26100.9711 / 10.0.26300.9711
- Windows 11 25H2: 10.0.26200.9711
- Windows 11 26H1: 10.0.28000.3231
- Windows Server 2025: 10.0.26100.33650
- Verify against the MSRC entry before rollout.
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor workaround or mitigation is documented; patching is the only documented remediation.
Exploitation
- No evidence of exploitation in the wild found.
- No public proof of concept found.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, not automatable, total technical impact.
- EPSS 0.00207 (low predicted exploitation probability).
Our recommendation
- Install the October 2026 security updates on all affected Windows 10, 11 and Server systems, starting with file servers, terminal servers and multi-user PCs.
- Restrict local logon and limit low-privileged accounts, since an attacker needs a local foothold.
- Monitor for unusual privilege changes and suspicious local processes after patching.
- Check the MSRC entry for the exact versions of your editions before rollout.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday October 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Storage
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5126651, KB5126655, KB5126657, KB5126646, KB5127648, KB5126653
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-69766 msrc.microsoft.com
- Vulners CVE List (CNA data): CVE-2026-69766 vulners.com
- Vulners NVD record: CVE-2026-69766 vulners.com
- Vulners Microsoft record: MS:CVE-2026-69766 vulners.com
- Strix CVE record: CVE-2026-69766 www.strix.ai
- Positive Technologies advisory PT-2026-112079 vulners.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 4 Nov 2026, 09:33.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Windows Storage allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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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