Description

Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows LUAFV allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "7.0",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-11T17:18:02.587Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-11T17:18:02.587Z",
  "executiveSummary": "A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists within the Windows LUAFV (Limited User Account File Virtualization) driver. This security flaw allows an authenticated local attacker to execute arbitrary code and achieve local privilege escalation on target systems.\nThe vulnerability resides in the kernel-mode driver responsible for redirecting legacy file and registry operations to user-profile directories. Successful exploitation compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the operating system, potentially allowing an attacker to attain SYSTEM-level privileges.\nExploitation requires the attacker to have local access to the system and authorization to execute code, alongside the ability to interact with the vulnerable LUAFV driver component. No remote network exposure is inherent to this specific local privilege escalation vector.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow stemming from improper bounds checking during memory allocation and data processing within the Windows LUAFV component. The vulnerable component is the kernel-mode driver responsible for user account file virtualization operations.\nAttack vector and flow: An authenticated local user crafts a malicious application or script designed to send specially formatted control codes, input parameters, or file virtualization requests to the LUAFV driver via IOCTLs (Input/Output Control) or related kernel communication interfaces.\nDuring the processing of these input vectors, the driver fails to adequately validate the size of the data being copied into a heap-allocated buffer. When the input exceeds the allocated buffer dimensions, a heap overflow occurs, corrupting adjacent heap metadata and memory structures.\nBy carefully manipulating the heap layout and overwriting critical kernel objects or function pointers with controlled payload data, the attacker can hijack the execution flow of the kernel.\nPrivilege requirements and constraints: Execution requires local access and standard user authorization. The attack surface is exposed locally through the driver interface, but requires no prior high-privilege context to initiate the malicious requests.\nPost-exploitation impact: Successful control-flow hijacking enables the execution of arbitrary kernel-mode code, resulting in local privilege escalation to the highest privilege tier (SYSTEM). This grants the attacker unrestricted access to modify system configurations, install persistent backdoors, and bypass security controls."
}