Description

Use after free in Windows Graphics Kernel allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "7.0",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-11T17:18:30.270Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-11T17:18:30.270Z",
  "executiveSummary": "This vulnerability is classified as a Use-After-Free (UAF) flaw residing within the Windows Graphics Kernel. Successful exploitation of this security defect allows an authorized local attacker to elevate their execution privileges on the target system.\nThe affected product is the Windows Graphics Kernel component of the Microsoft Windows operating system. The primary risk implication is a complete compromise of local host integrity, as unauthorized elevation of privilege (EoP) can enable malicious actors to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially bypassing critical OS security boundaries.\nAttacker capabilities require local access to the vulnerable system. The attacker must already possess authorization to execute code locally on the target host, implying initial access or low-privilege execution rights. Specific exploitation requirements involve manipulating heap memory states to reliably trigger the use-after-free condition within the kernel space.\nGiven the nature of kernel-level vulnerabilities, successful exploitation typically leads to kernel code execution, allowing the attacker to disable security controls, install persistent rootkits, or access protected system resources.",
  "technicalDetails": "The root cause of the vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Windows Graphics Kernel. Specifically, a dynamic memory object is deallocated or freed during specific graphics processing operations, but subsequent references to the stale pointer persist within the execution flow. When the application or kernel subsystem attempts to access the memory location referenced by the dangling pointer, a Use-After-Free condition occurs.\nThe vulnerable component is the Windows Graphics Kernel, which handles critical rendering, display management, and hardware acceleration tasks. Because this component operates within kernel space (ring 0), memory corruption or improper object management directly impacts the stability and security of the entire operating system.\nExploitation of this vulnerability requires local access. The authentication and privilege requirements dictate that the attacker must be able to log onto the system locally with standard user privileges to interact with the graphics subsystem via standard APIs or custom driver-interfacing applications.\nThe step-by-step attack flow typically proceeds as follows: First, the attacker initiates specific system calls or graphics operations designed to allocate a targeted kernel object within the Windows Graphics Kernel heap. Second, the attacker triggers a condition or sequence of operations that causes the kernel to prematurely free this object while retaining a reference to its memory address. Third, the attacker performs heap feng-shui or heap grooming techniques, allocating new data structures of the same size to occupy the recently freed memory slot. Fourth, when the kernel subsequently references the dangling pointer, it interacts with the attacker-controlled data instead of the original valid object.\nBy supplying malicious data that mimics valid function pointers or control structures within the reclaimed heap memory, the attacker forces the kernel to redirect execution flow to attacker-supplied shellcode or routines. Post-exploitation impact includes the execution of arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, facilitating comprehensive system compromise, evasion of endpoint detection mechanisms, and full administrative control over the affected Windows environment."
}