CVE-2026-97800 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2026
Incorrect permission assignment for critical resource in Windows Mobile Broadband allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2026
The vulnerability described involves incorrect permission assignments within the Windows Mobile Broadband subsystem, a component responsible for managing cellular network connectivity on devices equipped with mobile broadband adapters. This flaw represents a classic case of improper access control where critical system resources are not restricted appropriately, allowing entities that should have limited privileges to interact with sensitive components in ways they were not intended. In the context of Microsoft Windows operating systems, such misconfigurations often stem from overly permissive Access Control Lists (ACLs) applied to specific registry keys, DLL files, or named pipes associated with mobile broadband services like mbnapi.dll or related system processes. When these resources lack strict integrity and confidentiality controls, they become attractive targets for local privilege escalation attacks.
From a technical perspective, the core issue lies in the failure to enforce least-privilege principles during the initialization or runtime operation of the Mobile Broadband service. An attacker who has already gained authenticated access to the system, even with standard user-level credentials, can exploit these loose permissions to manipulate how the mobile broadband stack handles data or configuration requests. By crafting specific inputs that interact with these poorly secured resources, an unauthorized actor can trigger code execution within a higher-privileged context, such as SYSTEM level. This effectively bypasses User Account Control (UAC) protections and allows the attacker to take full control of the operating system without needing additional exploits for kernel-level vulnerabilities or physical access constraints beyond initial login capability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for local privilege escalation. Once an attacker achieves SYSTEM-level privileges, they can install persistent malware, create new administrative accounts, dump credential hashes from memory using tools like Mimikatz, and disable security logging mechanisms such as Windows Event Logs or Sysmon. This level of access fundamentally compromises the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the entire host system. In enterprise environments where mobile broadband is used for remote connectivity or backup links, this vulnerability could serve as a pivot point for lateral movement if the compromised machine has network access to other critical assets. The attacker can then exfiltrate sensitive data or use the elevated privileges to execute commands across the broader infrastructure, significantly expanding the blast radius of an initial breach.
This type of flaw is commonly categorized under CWE-276: Incorrect Default Permissions, which highlights failures in setting appropriate security attributes for resources upon creation or configuration. It also aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1055.008, specifically Process Injection via DLL Search Order Hijacking if the exploitation involves manipulating loaded libraries, or more broadly under privilege escalation vectors that abuse system service misconfigurations. The vulnerability underscores the importance of rigorous security hardening practices during OS deployment and patch management cycles.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying vendor-supplied patches as soon as they become available to correct the underlying permission structures within the Mobile Broadband components. Organizations should ensure that their Windows Update policies are configured to automatically deploy critical security updates for all endpoints, particularly those with mobile broadband capabilities. Additionally, implementing strict application control policies using tools like AppLocker or Windows Defender Application Control can prevent unauthorized processes from interacting with vulnerable system libraries even if permission flaws exist. Regular auditing of file and registry permissions on sensitive directories such as System32\drivers and related service configurations helps identify deviations from baseline security standards before they can be exploited. Reducing the attack surface by disabling unused mobile broadband services or restricting physical access to USB cellular adapters further diminishes the risk profile associated with this vulnerability.