Microsoft Windows up to Server 2025 Encrypting File System improper authorization

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
7.0$5k-$25k0.41-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as very critical has been identified in Microsoft Windows. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component Encrypting File System. The manipulation results in improper authorization. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-88162. The attack is only possible with local access. There is not any exploit available. A patch should be applied to remediate this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Microsoft Windows. Affected is an unknown code block of the component Encrypting File System. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a improper authorization vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-285. The product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Improper authorization in Windows Encrypting File System (EFS) allows an authorized attacker to perform tampering locally.

The advisory is available at msrc.microsoft.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-88162 since 09/09/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. Local access is required to approach this attack. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not available. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/14/2026). This vulnerability is assigned to T1548.002 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem.

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.2
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.0

VulDB Base Score: 8.8
VulDB Temp Score: 8.4
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 5.5
CNA Vector (microsoft): 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Improper authorization
CWE: CWE-285 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Timelineinfo

09/09/2026 CVE reserved
10/14/2026 +35 days Advisory disclosed
10/14/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/14/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: msrc.microsoft.com
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-88162 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-88162
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-419466
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161215

Entryinfo

Created: 10/14/2026 10:21
Changes: 10/14/2026 10:21 (63)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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