OTPulse

Windows NTFS Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Plan PatchCVSS 8CVE-2026-68834Sep 8, 2026
Microsoft
IT in OT - Windows Server and Active Directory are widely deployed in OT environments
Attack path
Attack VectorNetwork
Auth RequiredLow
ComplexityLow
User InteractionRequired
Summary

Stack-based buffer overflow in Windows NTFS allows an authorized attacker with local or network access to elevate privileges through specially crafted file system operations.

What this means
What could happen
An attacker with legitimate access to a Windows system could exploit this to gain elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to modify SCADA software, access restricted engineering data, or disrupt operations on HMI servers and engineering workstations.
Who's at risk
Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems (all supported versions), Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025 installations. This affects any organization running Windows-based engineering workstations, HMI servers, historian servers, or domain controllers in an ICS/SCADA environment.
How it could be exploited
An attacker with valid user credentials on a Windows 10 or Windows Server system could trigger a buffer overflow in NTFS by creating or manipulating specially crafted files or file attributes. This could allow them to execute code with elevated (system-level) privileges.
Prerequisites
  • Valid user account credentials on the target Windows system
  • Local or network file system access
  • Ability to create or modify files on an NTFS volume
Requires valid credentials (not unauthenticated)Privilege escalation from user to system levelAffects multiple critical Windows versionsVendor fix available
Exploitability
Unlikely to be exploited — EPSS score 0.6%
Affected products (26)
26 with fix
ProductAffected VersionsFix Status
Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit SystemsAll versionsBuild 10.0.17763.9245
Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based SystemsAll versionsBuild 10.0.17763.9245
Windows Server 2019All versionsBuild 10.0.17763.9245
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)All versionsBuild 10.0.17763.9245
Windows Server 2022All versionsBuild 10.0.20348.5622
Remediation & Mitigation
0/5
Schedule — requires maintenance window
0/3

Patching may require device reboot — plan for process interruption

Windows Server 2016
HOTFIXApply September 2026 Windows security update to all Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025 installations
All products
HOTFIXApply September 2026 Windows security update to all Windows 10 systems running versions 1607, 1809, 21H2, or 22H2
HOTFIXApply September 2026 Windows security update to all Windows 11 systems running versions 23H2, 24H2, 25H2, or 26H1
Long-term hardening
0/2
HARDENINGReview and restrict file system permissions on NTFS volumes to limit user access to only necessary directories, reducing attack surface
HARDENINGImplement network segmentation to restrict access to engineering workstations and HMI servers from untrusted network segments
View full vendor advisory
API: /api/v1/advisories/ec87607a-6dda-4523-b70c-b20dbdb516a3

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