CVE-2026-50298 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2026
Integer overflow or wraparound in Windows Spaceport.sys allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges with a physical attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical integer overflow condition within the Windows Spaceport.sys driver component that can be exploited by unauthorized attackers to achieve privilege escalation through physical access methods. This flaw exists in the kernel-mode driver responsible for managing spaceport functionalities and demonstrates a classic security weakness where arithmetic operations exceed maximum representable values, causing unexpected behavior in the system's memory management and access control mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the driver processes certain input parameters that trigger integer wraparound conditions during buffer allocation or size calculations, potentially leading to memory corruption that adversaries can leverage for unauthorized system access.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the Spaceport.sys driver failing to properly validate integer inputs before performing arithmetic operations that determine memory allocation sizes or buffer boundaries. When an attacker with physical access can manipulate these parameters through carefully crafted input sequences or device interactions, the integer overflow can cause legitimate memory allocations to become insufficiently sized, leading to buffer overflows that may be exploitable for code execution. The vulnerability's classification aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-190 Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which specifically addresses situations where integer arithmetic produces results that exceed the maximum value representable by the data type. This weakness directly relates to the broader category of memory safety issues that have historically led to privilege escalation attacks in operating system components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly severe given its requirement for physical access but its potential for complete system compromise. An attacker with physical presence could exploit this condition through direct hardware manipulation or specially crafted device inputs that trigger the integer overflow during driver processing. The privilege escalation achieved through this vulnerability allows attackers to gain kernel-level privileges, potentially enabling them to bypass all operating system security controls and access sensitive system resources, modify critical files, install malicious software, or establish persistent backdoors. This attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level where the attacker gains unrestricted access to the entire system, making it a high-value target for advanced persistent threat actors who can gain physical access to target systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate patching and operational security improvements. Microsoft has released security updates that address the integer overflow condition through proper input validation and arithmetic boundary checking within the Spaceport.sys driver. Organizations should prioritize applying these patches immediately, as the vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal sophistication beyond physical access to target systems. Additionally, implementing hardware security measures such as secure boot configurations, trusted platform modules, and device access controls can help prevent unauthorized physical manipulation of systems. From an operational perspective, organizations should conduct thorough risk assessments focusing on physical security controls, particularly for systems that handle sensitive data or critical infrastructure operations. The vulnerability's characteristics align with attack patterns documented in the attack technique matrix under T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits, making it essential for security teams to understand both the technical aspects and potential attack vectors associated with such weaknesses in Windows kernel components.