CVE-2026-42982 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2026
Improper validation of consistency within input in Windows Secure Kernel Mode allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the Windows Secure Kernel Mode implementation that undermines the fundamental security guarantees of the operating system's most privileged execution environment. The flaw stems from inadequate validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify the consistency of inputs processed within the secure kernel mode context, creating an exploitable condition that allows authenticated users to escalate their privileges locally. The vulnerability manifests when legitimate user processes attempt to manipulate kernel-mode data structures through seemingly benign input parameters that are not sufficiently validated for consistency and integrity. This weakness directly impacts the security model of Windows by enabling a privilege escalation attack that bypasses normal access controls and authorization mechanisms. The technical flaw resides in the insufficient input validation routines that govern how kernel-mode components process user-supplied data, allowing malicious inputs to be accepted without proper consistency checks that should prevent malformed or inconsistent data from being processed within privileged contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides a pathway for local attackers who already possess legitimate user credentials to gain elevated privileges without requiring additional exploitation techniques or bypasses. Once exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to execute code with kernel-level privileges, potentially allowing them to modify system files, disable security features, establish persistence mechanisms, or extract sensitive information from the operating system. This type of privilege escalation directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the core security architecture that separates user-mode and kernel-mode execution environments. The attack vector requires local authentication and access to a system running Windows with Secure Kernel Mode enabled, making it particularly concerning in enterprise environments where legitimate users may have elevated privileges or where credential compromise occurs through social engineering or other means.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-252, which addresses improper validation of consistency within input parameters, and demonstrates how inadequate data validation can lead to privilege escalation in kernel-mode components. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a privilege escalation technique that leverages weaknesses in system-level integrity checking mechanisms, specifically targeting the Windows kernel's security model. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious inputs that pass initial validation checks while containing inconsistencies that trigger unexpected behavior in the kernel's processing logic. Mitigation strategies should include applying Microsoft security updates promptly, implementing additional input validation controls within applications, and monitoring for unusual privilege escalation activities. Organizations should also consider reducing local user privileges where possible, implementing strict access controls, and maintaining comprehensive audit logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. The fundamental requirement for remediation involves ensuring that all kernel-mode components perform robust consistency checking on all inputs before processing them in privileged contexts, thereby preventing maliciously crafted data from disrupting the expected execution flow of critical system components.