{"id":"CVE-2026-68820","published":"2026-08-11T17:19:06Z","modified":"2026-10-26T13:10:00Z","title":"Microsoft Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock Use-After-Free Vulnerability","vendor":"Microsoft","product":"Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock ","tier":"core","eol":null,"description":{"text":"Use after free in Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.","provenance":"source","from":"NVD"},"summary":{"text":"The Microsoft Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock contains a use-after-free flaw. An attacker with local access and low-privilege authenticated credentials can elevate privileges, with no user interaction required, though exploitation is considered high complexity.","provenance":"ai","model":"claude-haiku-5-5","generatedAt":"2026-10-23T07:15:29Z"},"cvss":{"score":7.0,"severity":"HIGH","version":"3.1","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","provenance":"source","from":"NVD"},"epss":{"score":0.08567,"percentile":0.95064,"date":"2026-10-30","provenance":"source"},"kev":{"dateAdded":"2026-08-11","dueDate":"2026-08-25","ransomware":false,"requiredAction":"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","provenance":"source"},"vulncheckKev":{"dateAdded":"2026-08-11","exploitedFirstSeen":"2026-08-11","ransomware":false,"evidence":[{"url":"https://api.msrc.microsoft.com/cvrf/v3.0/cvrf/2026-Aug","date":"2026-08-11"},{"url":"https://blog.checkpoint.com/research/state-sponsored-hackers-use-fake-job-offers-to-deliver-new-zero-day-exploit/","date":"2026-08-11"},{"url":"https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lkNJ0uQwbeC1ZTRrxdtuPLCIl7mlUreoKfSIgajnSyY/edit","date":"2026-08-11"},{"url":"https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-68820","date":"2026-08-11"},{"url":"https://previdian.com/CVE-2026-68820","date":"2026-08-11"},{"url":"https://research.checkpoint.com/2026/shattering-the-dream-when-a-job-offer-becomes-a-zero-day-attack/","date":"2026-08-11"},{"url":"https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json","date":"2026-08-11"},{"url":"https://cydome.io/maritime-cybersecurity-bulletin-august-14th-2026/","date":"2026-08-14"},{"url":"https://research.checkpoint.com/2026/17th-august-threat-intelligence-report/","date":"2026-08-17"},{"url":"https://medium.com/@R00tPi/inside-cve-2026-68820-how-lazarus-turned-a-core-windows-networking-driver-into-a-system-level-216656703750","date":"2026-08-21"}],"evidenceTotal":15,"provenance":"source"},"exploited":true,"otx":{"pulseCount":37,"pulses":[{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 31, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ae4aefab0c2191cecd41862","created":"2026-10-30"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 30, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ae35d889ea92b4ce19c2680","created":"2026-10-29"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ae20c1db17e7057ae7d9ad1","created":"2026-10-28"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ae0ba7e0e2a97ff7b218819","created":"2026-10-27"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6adf68b85c3e852f3c111d18","created":"2026-10-26"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6adb740e397c3ad4799aa4cd","created":"2026-10-23"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ada236fcfba2dfa730ea482","created":"2026-10-22"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 22, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad8d33a077cbb5cab524d80","created":"2026-10-21"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 21, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad78130c4d1ac2be83a8b6d","created":"2026-10-20"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 20, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad62f63c24a405a3423cc13","created":"2026-10-19"}],"provenance":"machine"},"cwes":[{"id":"CWE-416","name":"Use After Free"}],"references":[{"url":"https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-68820","tags":["Patch","Vendor Advisory"]},{"url":"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-68820","tags":["US Government Resource"]}],"techniques":[{"id":"T1068","name":"Exploitation for Privilege Escalation","tactics":["privilege-escalation"],"provenance":"ai","basis":"ai-mapping","bases":["ai-mapping"],"basisDetail":"claude-haiku-5-5: local privilege escalation via driver bug","mappingType":"exploitation_technique","evidence":[{"from":"description","quote":"allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally","start":64,"end":123}],"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","confidence":"medium","confidenceNote":"AI-mapped from the description (quote-validated, not expert-reviewed)"}],"reports":[],"affected":[],"advisories":[],"euvd":{"id":"EUVD-2026-56468","url":"https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/EUVD-2026-56468","exploited":true,"exploitedSince":"2026-08-11","provenance":"source"},"exploits":[],"exploitSources":{"pocGithub":{"count":4,"skipped":0,"earliest":"2026-08-13","earliestUrl":"https://github.com/HORKimhab/CVE-2026-68820","repos":[{"name":"ubitquity/Windows-WinSock-UAF-Mitigation","url":"https://github.com/ubitquity/Windows-WinSock-UAF-Mitigation","stars":1,"created":"2026-08-15"},{"name":"fevar54/CVE-2026-68820-Mitigation-PoC-","url":"https://github.com/fevar54/CVE-2026-68820-Mitigation-PoC-","stars":1,"created":"2026-08-24"},{"name":"HORKimhab/CVE-2026-68820","url":"https://github.com/HORKimhab/CVE-2026-68820","stars":0,"created":"2026-08-13"},{"name":"maxprog-svg/CVE-2026-68820_Mass_Exploit","url":"https://github.com/maxprog-svg/CVE-2026-68820_Mass_Exploit","stars":0,"created":"2026-08-25"}]},"first":{"date":"2026-08-13","source":"PoC-in-GitHub","url":"https://github.com/HORKimhab/CVE-2026-68820"},"provenance":"source"},"exploitRefs":[],"flow":[{"stage":"exploitation","techniques":["T1068"],"provenance":"ai"}],"timeline":[{"date":"2026-08-11","kind":"published","label":"Published 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