Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Summary
| CVE | CVE-2026-68820 |
|---|---|
| State | PUBLISHED |
| Assigner | microsoft |
| Source Priority | CVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback |
| Published | 2026-08-11 17:19:06 UTC |
| Updated | 2026-08-16 19:17:24 UTC |
| Description | Use after free in Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. |
Risk And Classification
Primary CVSS: v3.1 7 HIGH from [email protected]
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS: 0.003320000 probability, percentile 0.261490000 (date 2026-08-16)
CISA KEV: Listed on 2026-08-11; due 2026-08-25; ransomware use Unknown
Problem Types: CWE-416 | CWE-416 CWE-416: Use After Free
| Version | Source | Type | Score | Severity | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | [email protected] | Secondary | 7 | HIGH | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| 3.1 | CNA | CVSS | 7 | HIGH | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C |
CVSS v3.1 Breakdown
Attack Vector
LocalAttack Complexity
HighPrivileges Required
LowUser Interaction
NoneScope
UnchangedConfidentiality
HighIntegrity
HighAvailability
HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability
| Vendor | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Product | Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock |
| Name | Microsoft Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock Use-After-Free Vulnerability |
| Required Action | Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines. |
| Notes | https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2026-68820 ; BOD 26-04: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk ; Forensics Triage Requirements: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-implementation-guidance-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-68820 |
NVD Known Affected Configurations (CPE 2.3)
| Type | Vendor | Product | Version | Update | Edition | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows 10 1607 | All | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows 10 1607 | All | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows 10 1809 | All | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows 10 1809 | All | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows 10 21h2 | All | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows 10 22h2 | All | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows 11 23h2 | All | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows 11 24h2 | All | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows 11 25h2 | All | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows 11 26h1 | All | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 | - | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 | r2 | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows Server 2016 | All | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 | All | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows Server 2022 | All | All | All | All |
| Operating System | Microsoft | Windows Server 2025 | All | All | All | All |
Vendor Declared Affected Products
| Source | Vendor | Product | Version | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1607 | affected 10.0.14393.0 10.0.14393.9418 custom | 32-bit Systems, x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 1809 | affected 10.0.17763.0 10.0.17763.9121 custom | 32-bit Systems, x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 21H2 | affected 10.0.19044.0 10.0.19044.7663 custom | 32-bit Systems, ARM64-based Systems, x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows 10 Version 22H2 | affected 10.0.19045.0 10.0.19045.7663 custom | 32-bit Systems, ARM64-based Systems, x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows 11 Version 23H2 | affected 10.0.22631.0 10.0.22631.7517 custom | ARM64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows 11 Version 23H2 | affected 10.0.22631.0 10.0.22631.7517 custom | x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows 11 Version 24H2 | affected 10.0.26100.0 10.0.26100.9168 custom | ARM64-based Systems, x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows 11 Version 25H2 | affected 10.0.26200.0 10.0.26200.9168 custom | ARM64-based Systems, x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows 11 Version 26H1 | affected 10.0.28000.0 10.0.28000.2704 custom | ARM64-based Systems, x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 | affected 6.2.9200.0 6.2.9200.26280 custom | x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 Server Core Installation | affected 6.2.9200.0 6.2.9200.26280 custom | x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 R2 | affected 6.3.9600.0 6.3.9600.23338 custom | x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows Server 2012 R2 Server Core Installation | affected 6.3.9600.0 6.3.9600.23338 custom | x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows Server 2016 | affected 10.0.14393.0 10.0.14393.9418 custom | x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows Server 2016 Server Core Installation | affected 10.0.14393.0 10.0.14393.9418 custom | x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 | affected 10.0.17763.0 10.0.17763.9121 custom | x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows Server 2019 Server Core Installation | affected 10.0.17763.0 10.0.17763.9121 custom | x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows Server 2022 | affected 10.0.20348.0 10.0.20348.5499 custom | x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows Server 2025 | affected 10.0.26100.0 10.0.26100.33296 custom | x64-based Systems |
| CNA | Microsoft | Windows Server 2025 Server Core Installation | affected 10.0.26100.0 10.0.26100.33296 custom | x64-based Systems |
References
| Reference | Source | Link | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-68820 | [email protected] | msrc.microsoft.com | Patch, Vendor Advisory |
| www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 | www.cisa.gov | US Government Resource |
| CVE Program record | CVE.ORG | www.cve.org | canonical |
| NVD vulnerability detail | NVD | nvd.nist.gov | canonical, analysis |
| CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog | CISA | www.cisa.gov | kev |
No vendor comments have been submitted for this CVE.
Additional Advisory Data
| Source | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| ADP | 2026-08-11T00:00:00.000Z | CVE-2026-68820 added to CISA KEV |
There are currently no legacy QID mappings associated with this CVE.