Track vulnerabilities like this one. Sign up free to get alerted when software you use is affected.

CVE-2026-62788: Windows Privilege Elevation Risk Through Windows Kernel

CVE-2026-62788 · published 2 months ago

Summary

A vulnerability in the Windows Kernel allows authorized users to gain higher privileges on a local machine. This means that someone with normal access to a Windows computer can potentially gain complete control over it. To protect your systems, ensure you have the latest Windows updates installed.

What to do

Update microsoft windows 11 version 23h2 to version 10.0.22631.7517 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 24h2 to version 10.0.26100.9168 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 25h2 to version 10.0.26200.9168 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 26h1 to version 10.0.28000.2704 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2025 to version 10.0.26100.33296 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2025 (server core installation) to version 10.0.26100.33296 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_23h2 to version 10.0.22631.7517 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_24h2 to version 10.0.26100.9106 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_25h2 to version 10.0.26200.9106 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_26h1 to version 10.0.28000.2704 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2025 to version 10.0.26100.33222 or later.

Affected software

Vendor	Product	Affected versions
microsoft	windows 11 version 23h2	< 10.0.22631.7517
microsoft	windows 11 version 24h2	< 10.0.26100.9168
microsoft	windows 11 version 25h2	< 10.0.26200.9168
microsoft	windows 11 version 26h1	< 10.0.28000.2704
microsoft	windows server 2025	< 10.0.26100.33296
microsoft	windows server 2025 (server core installation)	< 10.0.26100.33296
microsoft	windows_11_23h2	< 10.0.22631.7517 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	< 10.0.26100.9106 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	< 10.0.26200.9106 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_26h1	< 10.0.28000.2704 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_server_2025	< 10.0.26100.33222 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025::::::::`

Original advisory text

Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

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

References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-62788 vendor-advisory patch

Fix within

Internet-facing 14 days

Internal At next upgrade

Not known to be exploited
Needs hands-on effort to exploit
Gives an attacker full control

Severity

7.0 High

Exploitation

<1% chance of attack within 30 days

Type

CWE-416Use After Free

Timeline

Published11 Aug 2026

Updated4 Nov 2026

First seen11 Aug 2026

Sources

CVE-2026-62788 · NVD

CVE-2026-62788 · MITRE

Track software like this

Free during beta