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CVE-2026-70185: Windows PowerShell lets local attacker bypass security feature

CVE-2026-70185 · published 22 days ago

Summary

On several versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11, the built‑in PowerShell tool can be tricked into skipping an important security check when run on the computer itself. This means a user who already has access to the system could reduce its protection and potentially run harmful actions more easily. Apply the latest Microsoft updates and consider restricting PowerShell use to only trusted administrators.

What to do

Update microsoft windows 10 version 1607 to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows 10 version 1809 to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows 10 version 21h2 to version 10.0.19044.7807 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 23h2 to version 10.0.22631.7652 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 24h2 to version 10.0.26100.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 25h2 to version 10.0.26200.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 26h1 to version 10.0.28000.3231 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 26h2 to version 10.0.26300.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2012 to version 6.2.9200.26434 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2012 (server core installation) to version 6.2.9200.26434 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2012 r2 to version 6.3.9600.23470 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2012 r2 (server core installation) to version 6.3.9600.23470 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2016 to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2016 (server core installation) to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2019 to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2019 (server core installation) to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2022 to version 10.0.20348.5761 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2025 to version 10.0.26100.33650 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2025 (server core installation) to version 10.0.26100.33650 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_1607 to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_1809 to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_21h2 to version 10.0.19044.7807 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_22h2 to version 10.0.19045.7807 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_23h2 to version 10.0.22631.7652 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_24h2 to version 10.0.26100.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_25h2 to version 10.0.26200.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_26h1 to version 10.0.28000.3231 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_26h2 to version 10.0.26300.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2016 to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2019 to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2022 to version 10.0.20348.5761 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2025 to version 10.0.26100.33650 or later.

Affected software

Vendor	Product	Affected versions
microsoft	windows 10 version 1607	< 10.0.14393.9612
microsoft	windows 10 version 1809	< 10.0.17763.9376
microsoft	windows 10 version 21h2	< 10.0.19044.7807
microsoft	windows 10 version 22h2	< 10.0.19044.7807 < 10.0.19045.7807
microsoft	windows 11 version 23h2	< 10.0.22631.7652
microsoft	windows 11 version 24h2	< 10.0.26100.9711
microsoft	windows 11 version 25h2	< 10.0.26200.9711
microsoft	windows 11 version 26h1	< 10.0.28000.3231
microsoft	windows 11 version 26h2	< 10.0.26300.9711
microsoft	windows server 2012	< 6.2.9200.26434
microsoft	windows server 2012 (server core installation)	< 6.2.9200.26434
microsoft	windows server 2012 r2	< 6.3.9600.23470
microsoft	windows server 2012 r2 (server core installation)	< 6.3.9600.23470
microsoft	windows server 2016	< 10.0.14393.9612
microsoft	windows server 2016 (server core installation)	< 10.0.14393.9612
microsoft	windows server 2019	< 10.0.17763.9376
microsoft	windows server 2019 (server core installation)	< 10.0.17763.9376
microsoft	windows server 2022	< 10.0.20348.5761
microsoft	windows server 2025	< 10.0.26100.33650
microsoft	windows server 2025 (server core installation)	< 10.0.26100.33650
microsoft	windows_10_1607	< 10.0.14393.9612 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:::::::x64:*`
microsoft	windows_10_1809	< 10.0.17763.9376 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:::::::x64:*`
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	< 10.0.19044.7807 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	< 10.0.19045.7807 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_23h2	< 10.0.22631.7652 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	< 10.0.26100.9711 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	< 10.0.26200.9711 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_26h1	< 10.0.28000.3231 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_26h2	< 10.0.26300.9711 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_server_2012	r2 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:-:::::::*`
microsoft	windows_server_2016	< 10.0.14393.9612 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:::::::x64:*`
microsoft	windows_server_2019	< 10.0.17763.9376 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:::::::x64:*`
microsoft	windows_server_2022	< 10.0.20348.5761 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022:::::::x64:*`
microsoft	windows_server_2025	< 10.0.26100.33650 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:::::::x64:*`

Original advisory text

Microsoft PowerShell Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

Protection mechanism failure in Windows PowerShell allows an authorized attacker to bypass a security feature locally.

References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-70185 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

8.8 High

Exploitation

<1% chance of attack within 30 days

Type

CWE-639Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key

Timeline

Published13 Oct 2026

Updated4 Nov 2026

First seen13 Oct 2026

Sources

CVE-2026-70185 · NVD

CVE-2026-70185 · MITRE

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