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CVE-2026-24289 Microsoft CVE debrief

CVE-2026-24289 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Windows Kernel that allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. This use-after-free vulnerability was published on March 10, 2026, and has a CVSS score of 7.8. Affected products include various versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server. The vulnerability requires local access and privileges to exploit. Defenders should prioritize patching to limit exposure.

Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows
CVSS
HIGH 7.8
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-03-10
Original CVE updated
2026-06-19
Advisory published
2026-03-10
Advisory updated
2026-06-19

Who should care

Organizations using Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server should prioritize patching this vulnerability. Specifically, defenders managing Windows environments, security teams, and IT professionals responsible for maintaining system updates should be aware of this issue. Given the high severity and local privilege escalation potential, swift action is necessary to reduce risk.

Technical summary

CVE-2026-24289 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Windows Kernel. An authorized attacker can exploit this vulnerability locally to elevate privileges. The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 7.8, indicating high severity. The CVSS vector is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating that the vulnerability requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), and low privileges (PR:L). The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server, including but not limited to Windows 10 1607, Windows 10 1809, Windows 10 21H2, Windows 11 23H2, and various Windows Server versions.

Defensive priority

High priority due to local privilege escalation potential

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply patches from Microsoft as soon as possible
  • Review and update Windows systems to ensure all necessary security updates are applied
  • Limit local access to sensitive systems and enforce strong privilege management
  • Monitor systems for suspicious activity indicating potential exploitation
  • Verify system configurations and ensure compensating controls are in place where patches cannot be applied immediately

Evidence notes

The primary evidence for this vulnerability comes from the CVE record and the National Vulnerability Database (NVD). The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Windows and has a CVSS score of 7.8. Microsoft has provided a vendor advisory for this vulnerability. Defenders should verify the affected products and versions from official sources and apply patches accordingly.

Official resources

This article is AI-assisted and based on the supplied source corpus.