Description

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

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "7.8",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-11T17:18:15.290Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-11T17:18:15.290Z",
  "executiveSummary": "A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability has been identified within the Windows USB Driver. This security flaw enables a locally authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code and achieve local privilege escalation on targeted systems.\nThe vulnerability resides in the memory management handling of the Windows USB Driver component. When improperly processed input or oversized data structures are supplied to the driver via specific input/output control requests or device interactions, a heap corruption condition is triggered. This allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent heap memory structures.\nSuccessful exploitation of this vulnerability compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host operating system. By elevating execution privileges to kernel-level or high-integrity contexts, an adversary can bypass standard security controls, install persistent malware, access restricted system resources, or manipulate critical operating system components.\nExploitation requires local access to the target system and the ability to interact directly with the affected device driver. Although the attacker must already possess authorization to execute code locally, the absence of robust bounds checking within the driver logic facilitates the escalation of privileges without requiring complex multi-stage attack chains.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow stemming from inadequate input validation and memory bounds checking within the Windows USB Driver component. Specifically, the driver fails to properly verify the size of buffers supplied during internal request processing, leading to a discrepancy between the allocated heap chunk size and the actual data written into it.\nDuring execution, the vulnerable component processes input data provided through device interfaces or control codes. If an attacker submits a maliciously crafted payload containing data exceeding the expected boundaries of the target heap buffer, a memory overflow occurs. This overwrites adjacent heap metadata, function pointers, or critical application data structures stored within the kernel heap.\nThe attack flow proceeds as follows: First, the local attacker establishes interaction with the target device exposed by the Windows USB Driver. Second, the attacker formulates a malicious input payload designed to saturate and overflow the target heap allocation. Third, the attacker triggers the vulnerable function within the driver by issuing specific control requests. Fourth, the overflow corrupts adjacent heap chunks, allowing the attacker to redirect execution flow or manipulate kernel-level data structures.\nPrerequisites for successful exploitation include local system access and authentication levels sufficient to open handles to the device driver. The vulnerability presents a local attack vector, as remote network exposure is typically mitigated by the local boundary requirements of device driver communication interfaces. The resulting payload behavior involves arbitrary memory manipulation, potentially leading to kernel execution and full system compromise."
}