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Exploited. On CISA's list since 2026-08-11.
CVE-2026-68820 · Microsoft Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock · Published 2026-08-11
7.0 out of 10
CVSS rates it high.
0.3%
Estimated chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 26% of all scored flaws (EPSS, 2026-10-29).
Yes
CISA has seen it exploited in real attacks. For US government agencies the fix is deadline passed 66 days ago (2026-08-25).
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.
Microsoft Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock contains a use-after-free vulnerability that allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Use after free in Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
From the NVD.
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Understand the kind of weakness behind this flaw. These resources teach the weakness, rather than reproduce this specific CVE. Follow the vendor's advice above to fix the affected product.
A program uses memory after releasing it, when its contents may belong to something else.
CWE-416 · CISA KEV; NVD record: secure@microsoft.com
Practice labs · Free account. Requires C, pointers and basic binary exploitation; begin with Freebie (Easy).
CWE is a catalogue of weakness types. Labels come from the sources shown and can differ or change. Resource matches reviewed 16 October 2026.
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Exploited flaws from CISA's KEV catalogue. Chance of exploitation from EPSS by FIRST. Descriptions and scores from the NVD. This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.