CVE-2026-50381 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2026
Access of resource using incompatible type ('type confusion') in Composite Image File System Driver allows an authorized attacker to disclose information locally.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical type confusion issue within the Composite Image File System Driver component of Microsoft Windows operating systems. This flaw occurs when the driver processes file system operations involving composite image files, where different data types are manipulated in ways that violate expected type safety mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically manifests as an access of resource using incompatible type, which falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-415. Such type confusion vulnerabilities typically arise from improper handling of memory management or object-oriented programming constructs where the system fails to properly validate data types during runtime operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authorized attacker with local access to the system, as the issue does not permit remote code execution or network-based attacks. However, the impact remains severe due to the potential for information disclosure that can occur when the driver processes malformed composite image files. The attacker can leverage this weakness by creating or manipulating specific file structures that cause the driver to improperly handle type conversions, leading to memory access violations that may expose sensitive data from system memory or file system metadata. This type of vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the file system driver stack, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially access protected system resources and reveal information about the underlying operating system configuration.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations where local privilege escalation could lead to unauthorized data access or information disclosure. The attack vector requires physical access or local user privileges, but once exploited, the attacker can potentially extract sensitive information such as file paths, system memory contents, or other confidential data that may be accessible through the compromised driver interface. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it may enable further exploitation attempts or provide attackers with additional reconnaissance data to plan more sophisticated attacks against the target environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch management and system hardening measures. Microsoft has released security updates addressing this specific type confusion issue, and organizations must prioritize deployment of the latest security patches to remediate the vulnerability. Additionally, implementing least privilege access controls and limiting local user privileges can reduce the attack surface available to potential adversaries. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be employed to detect unusual file system activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices in kernel-level components and reinforces the need for comprehensive input validation and type checking mechanisms within critical system drivers, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access through system-level vulnerabilities.