Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Windows local privilege escalation issue. A user who already has authorized local access could abuse a flaw in the Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock to gain higher privileges. It is not described as remote code execution, but it can turn a low-privilege foothold into full system compromise.
Executive priority
Patch in the normal high-priority Windows security cycle, with faster handling for shared endpoints and servers allowing user logon. This is not shown as actively exploited, but it can materially increase the impact of phishing, malware, or insider access.
Technical view
CVE-2026-24293 is a CWE-476 null pointer dereference in the Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely on unpatched affected Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2022, and Windows Server 2025 systems listed by Microsoft. The attacker needs local authorized access, so risk is highest on shared endpoints, VDI, developer workstations, jump hosts, and servers where non-admin users can log in.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The CVSS vector marks exploit code maturity as unproven. Treat this as a serious post-access escalation risk, not as evidence of internet-scale exploitation.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a local EoP in AFD.sys-related WinSock functionality, classified as CWE-476. Microsoft lists remediation as official and CVSS exploit maturity as unproven. The bundle does not provide exploit details, KB identifiers, crash conditions, or proof-of-concept status.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Microsoft’s official security update for CVE-2026-24293.
- Prioritize systems allowing local or interactive non-admin logins.
- Restrict unnecessary local user access on sensitive Windows servers.
- Monitor Microsoft guidance for revised affected versions or known issues.
- Confirm endpoint and server patch compliance after deployment.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Windows builds against Microsoft’s affected product list.
- Verify the relevant Microsoft security update is installed.
- Check patch reports for failed or deferred Windows updates.
- Review privileged account changes after suspected local compromise.
- Confirm unsupported or out-of-scope systems are documented separately.
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-476: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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 lookupPrivilege behavior lookup
The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-24293 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:L/UI:N/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:L/UI:N/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:L/UI:N/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 Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock Elevation of Privilege VulnerabilityCVE reference, microsoft · vendor-advisory, patch
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.
NULL Pointer Dereference
NULL Pointer Dereference represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.