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": "2026-08-11T17:18:20.197Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-11T17:18:20.197Z",
  "executiveSummary": "An out-of-bounds read vulnerability has been identified within the Windows DWM Core Library, specifically affecting local system architecture. The vulnerability enables an authorized threat actor to execute unauthorized information disclosure operations locally on targeted systems.\nThe primary risk associated with this vulnerability involves the potential compromise of sensitive memory contents, potentially exposing critical system states or internal application data to local processes. The flaw stems from improper input validation or boundary verification during memory buffer processing within the affected component.\nSuccessful exploitation requires the attacker to possess prior authorization and local access to the vulnerable endpoint. The attack vector is strictly local, meaning remote network exploitation is not feasible without prior access or an independent remote execution vector. No additional specialized execution privileges beyond local authorization are explicitly mandated by the base vulnerability characteristics.\nOrganizations utilizing affected Windows systems face potential risks regarding confidentiality breaches if local threat actors leverage this information disclosure primitive to facilitate further privilege escalation or bypass defensive security controls. Mitigation relies heavily on applying official vendor updates once available and maintaining rigorous local access control policies.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability resides in the Windows DWM Core Library, a core graphical subsystem responsible for desktop composition, window management, and visual effects rendering. The root cause is an out-of-bounds read condition, occurring when the component processes specially crafted inputs or memory buffers without correctly validating boundary constraints.\nDuring typical operation, the vulnerable component interacts with memory buffers allocated for rendering or visual data manipulation. If an authorized process supplies malformed parameters or indices that exceed the allocated buffer boundaries, the reading mechanism attempts to access memory addresses outside the legitimate operational scope.\nExploitation of this out-of-bounds read primitive allows an attacker to read adjacent memory contents from the heap or stack space managed by the Windows DWM Core Library process. Depending on the specific memory layout and the contents residing in the adjacent regions, this leaked data may include sensitive structures, pointers, or application secrets processed within the context of the Desktop Window Manager.\nThe attack flow proceeds as follows: First, the authorized attacker initializes execution locally on the target operating system. Second, the attacker interacts with the Windows DWM Core Library through legitimate application programming interfaces or IPC mechanisms exposed by the graphical subsystem, supplying manipulated inputs designed to trigger the out-of-bounds boundary condition. Third, the component performs the read operation outside the allocated buffer boundaries. Finally, the resulting out-of-bounds data is returned or captured by the attacker, facilitating local information disclosure.\nThe vulnerability requires local access and an authorized execution context. Network exposure is non-existent as the vulnerable interface is exposed locally within the operating system architecture. The post-exploitation impact is primarily limited to information disclosure, though the leaked memory contents may serve as a critical reconnaissance enabler for chaining with subsequent local privilege escalation vulnerabilities."
}