Description

Out-of-bounds read in Windows DWM Core Library allows an authorized attacker to disclose information locally.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "5.5",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-11T17:18:16.213Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-11T17:18:16.213Z",
  "executiveSummary": "This vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read security flaw affecting the Windows DWM Core Library, which is a core component of the Microsoft Windows operating system graphics subsystem. The primary impact of this vulnerability is local information disclosure, allowing an unauthorized or authorized threat actor to access sensitive memory contents that should otherwise be restricted.\nThe risk implication centers on the potential leakage of critical system memory data, which could be leveraged by an attacker to facilitate further exploitation, such as bypassing memory randomization protections like ASLR. Attack capabilities are limited to local execution, meaning the threat actor must already possess local access or the ability to execute code on the target machine.\nExploitation requirements include local execution context, where the attacker interacts with the vulnerable Windows DWM Core Library to trigger the out-of-bounds read condition. The flaw highlights insufficient bounds checking within the affected component when processing specific graphics or window management operations, leading to unauthorized memory reads.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability resides within the Windows DWM Core Library, specifically in the logic responsible for handling memory buffers and data structures associated with Desktop Window Manager operations. The root cause of the issue is an out-of-bounds read, stemming from a failure to properly validate input indices or buffer boundaries before performing read operations on memory segments.\nThe vulnerable component is the core executable or library handling DWM rendering and composition tasks within the Windows graphics pipeline. Affected versions encompass the standard Windows operating system iterations utilizing the vulnerable DWM Core Library implementation. Authentication requirements are minimal regarding network access, as the vulnerability is strictly local, but execution requires local system interaction.\nPrivilege requirements dictate that the attacker must have local code execution capabilities on the target host to interact with the DWM subsystem. Network exposure is non-existent as the vulnerability cannot be triggered remotely; it requires localized access to the affected system.\nThe step-by-step attack flow begins when an attacker with local execution privileges crafts a specialized sequence of inputs or API calls directed at the Windows DWM Core Library. Upon processing these inputs, the DWM component fails to enforce strict bounds validation on internal buffer offsets. Consequently, the subsystem reads memory past the allocated boundaries of the targeted buffer. This out-of-bounds read operation captures adjacent memory contents, which may contain sensitive kernel or user-mode data structures.\nThe payload behavior involves capturing the leaked memory contents and returning them to the attacker's context or utilizing them to glean layout information about memory spaces. The post-exploitation impact of this information disclosure is primarily the circumvention of security mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization, empowering the attacker to chain this flaw with other local privilege escalation vulnerabilities for more comprehensive system compromise."
}