Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-26926 is a Microsoft Windows Address Book remote code execution vulnerability. The business risk is high because successful exploitation could let attacker-controlled code run with major confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The provided data indicates user interaction is required and does not show confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority patching item, especially on user-facing Windows endpoints. The impact is severe if exploited, but the provided evidence does not show active exploitation or wormable behavior.
Technical view
The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 high with AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. It is categorized as CWE-284 and affects multiple Windows client and server versions. The source bundle names an official remediation level but does not include exploit mechanics or specific KB identifiers.
Likely exposure
Organizations running the listed Windows versions may be exposed, including Windows 7, 8.1, 10, 11 21H2, Server 2008, Server 2016, Server 2019, Server 2022, and related Server Core installations.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not support a claim of active exploitation. KEV is false, and CVSS exploit code maturity is listed as unproven. User interaction is required, so exposure depends on affected systems encountering attacker-controlled content or workflows that reach Windows Address Book behavior.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to CVE, CVSS, affected products, CWE, KEV status, and Microsoft advisory links. The bundle does not provide root cause detail, exploit prerequisites beyond CVSS, detection indicators, or exact update identifiers.
Mitigation direction
- Review the MSRC advisory for CVE-2022-26926 and applicable update guidance.
- Apply Microsoft security updates for all affected Windows versions in scope.
- Prioritize endpoints and servers where users process external files or contact data.
- Retire or isolate unsupported Windows versions where updates are unavailable.
- Use standard endpoint controls to reduce exposure to untrusted files.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Windows versions against the affected product list in the source bundle.
- Confirm the applicable Microsoft update is installed on each affected system.
- Check vulnerability management findings for CVE-2022-26926 closure after patching.
- Review endpoint telemetry for suspicious user-launched content around vulnerable systems.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-284: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
Authorization weaknesses can support privilege escalation and valid-account review, depending on exploit path. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-26926 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C1.85.9microsoftVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- Windows Address Book Remote Code Execution VulnerabilityCVE reference, microsoft · vendor-advisory
- https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2022-26926CVE reference, CVE · x_refsource_MISC, x_transferred
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Access Control
Improper Access Control represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.