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CVE-2026-20859 - Windows 11 Version 24H2 Plugin

CVE-2026-20859

Use after free in Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

CVE-2026-20859

HIGH CVSS 7.8 Published 2026-01-13 Updated 2026-01-15
AI Risk Elevated (70/100) Active Exploit: No strong signal Published Exploit: No public exploit references Priority: P3 Priority
Severity Band HIGH
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Affected Components 3
Reference Links 1
AI Risk Engine Elevated (70/100)
Exploitability Medium
Active Exploitation No strong signal
Published Exploit Status No public exploit references

Threat Timeline

  1. 2026-01-13 CVE published and first recorded in the threat feed.
  2. 2026-01-15 Record updated with latest vulnerability metadata.
  3. 2026-04-09 AI technical context refreshed for mitigation and impact guidance.
  4. Now Monitoring for follow-up changes, linked references, and new related CVEs.

AI Context

Machine-generated threat intelligence

AI Updated 12 days ago

AI enriched 12 days ago (2026-04-09 08:05 UTC)

Technical Summary

Use after free in Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Potential Impact

Severity is HIGH (CVSS 7.8). Depending on deployment context, affected components may be exposed to unauthorized actions or data integrity risk.

Exploitability Assessment

Exploitability is assessed as Medium based on severity and technical exposure profile.

Primary risk drivers: severity and technical exposure profile

Mitigation Recommendations

Validate affected product versions, prioritize patching, and monitor references for vendor remediation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, apply compensating controls and limit exposure of vulnerable surfaces.

Detection & Monitoring

Track authentication anomalies, unexpected file writes, and suspicious plugin API activity around affected components.

Business Impact Lens

Prioritize remediation where affected components process customer data, admin sessions, or Internet-exposed workflows.

Affected Products

Windows 11 Version 24H2 PLUGIN · windows-11-version-24h2 Affected: >= 10.0.26100.0, < 10.0.26100.7623 Fixed in: 10.0.26100.7623
Windows 11 Version 25H2 PLUGIN · windows-11-version-25h2 Affected: >= 10.0.26200.0, < 10.0.26200.7623 Fixed in: 10.0.26200.7623
Windows Server 2025 PLUGIN · windows-server-2025 Affected: >= 10.0.26100.0, < 10.0.26100.32230 Fixed in: 10.0.26100.32230
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