Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver: Elevation of privilege (stack overflow)
Summary
A stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-121) in the Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver allows a local attacker to elevate privileges. The attacker needs local access and a user interaction, but no prior privileges. The driver is not internet-facing, so the main risk is an attacker or malware already running as a standard user, for example after phishing.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016: 10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9612
- Windows 10 Version 1809: 10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9376
- Windows 10 Version 21H2: 10.0.19044.0 to before 10.0.19044.7807
- Windows 10 Version 22H2: 10.0.19045.0 to before 10.0.19045.7807
- Windows 11 Version 23H2: 10.0.22631.0 to before 10.0.22631.7652
- Windows 11 Version 24H2: 10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.9711
- Windows 11 Version 25H2: 10.0.26200.0 to before 10.0.26200.9711
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: 10.0.28000.0 to before 10.0.28000.3231
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: 10.0.26300.0 to before 10.0.26300.9711
- Windows Server 2012 (including Server Core): 6.2.9200.0 to before 6.2.9200.26434
- Windows Server 2012 R2 (including Server Core): 6.3.9600.0 to before 6.3.9600.23470
Fixed in
- Windows 10 1607 and Windows Server 2016: build 10.0.14393.9612
- Windows 10 1809: build 10.0.17763.9376
- Windows 10 21H2: build 10.0.19044.7807
- Windows 10 22H2: build 10.0.19045.7807
- Windows 11 23H2: build 10.0.22631.7652
- Windows 11 24H2: build 10.0.26100.9711
- Windows 11 25H2: build 10.0.26200.9711
- Windows 11 26H1: build 10.0.28000.3231
- Windows 11 26H2: build 10.0.26300.9711
- Windows Server 2012: build 6.2.9200.26434
- Windows Server 2012 R2: build 6.3.9600.23470
The KB article numbers for the fixes are unknown.
Workaround
- Unknown. The vendor provides a patch.
- Until patching is complete, restrict local printer driver installation rights to trusted administrators.
Exploitation
- No in-the-wild exploitation known. CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, not automatable, total technical impact.
- No public proof of concept found.
- EPSS in one snapshot was about 0.00475 (low predicted exploitation probability).
Our recommendation
- Install the October 2026 Windows security updates on all affected systems, prioritising Windows 10 1607, Windows Server 2016 and other older builds.
- Inventory all Windows systems and print servers, not only Windows 10 1607, because the vendor data covers many more versions.
- Check whether any systems still run Windows 10 1607 and whether they have extended support; verify the end-of-support date on Microsoft's lifecycle page.
- Restrict local printer driver installation rights now.
- Monitor endpoints for privilege escalation attempts.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday October 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Microsoft PostScript Printer 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)
- KB5126835, KB5126836, KB5126868, KB5126651, KB5127648, KB5126646
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-70110 msrc.microsoft.com
- Vulners: CVE-2026-70110 CNA data (cvelist) vulners.com
- Vulners: MS:CVE-2026-70110 (mscve) vulners.com
- OpenCVE: CVE-2026-70110 app.opencve.io
- Strix: CVE-2026-70110 www.strix.ai
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 2 Nov 2026, 04:16.
Original description (NVD)
Stack-based buffer overflow in Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver allows an unauthorized 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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