CVE-2026-62880 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2026
Out-of-bounds read in Windows NTFS allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the Windows NTFS file system implementation that enables authenticated local attackers to escalate their privileges from standard user level to SYSTEM access. The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking during file system operations, specifically when processing certain metadata structures or file attributes that are manipulated by an attacker with legitimate login credentials. The flaw exists in the kernel-level NTFS driver components where insufficient validation occurs when parsing file system structures, allowing memory access beyond allocated boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it transforms a local authenticated threat into a privilege escalation vector that can result in complete system compromise. An attacker with normal user privileges can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges, effectively bypassing all standard security controls and access restrictions. This represents a classic local privilege escalation vulnerability that aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of buffer bounds during input processing. The attack requires minimal prerequisites beyond legitimate system access but provides maximum leverage in terms of system control.
The exploitability characteristics make this vulnerability particularly dangerous because it operates entirely within the trusted execution environment of the operating system, making detection more challenging for traditional security monitoring tools. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain SYSTEM-level access without requiring additional attack vectors or external exploitation techniques. The vulnerability's presence in core file system components means that successful exploitation can lead to persistent access and data exfiltration capabilities, representing a complete compromise of the affected system.
Security mitigations should focus on immediate patch deployment through Microsoft's regular security updates, as this vulnerability requires kernel-level fixes that cannot be addressed through configuration changes or user-level workarounds. Organizations should implement additional monitoring for unusual privilege escalation activities and ensure comprehensive backup and recovery procedures are in place. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patches in controlled environments before widespread deployment to avoid potential system instability. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability would likely be categorized under attack techniques involving privilege escalation and lateral movement within the ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the privilege escalation phase where adversaries seek to gain elevated system access through kernel-level vulnerabilities rather than user-level exploits.