CVE-2026-72969: Windows Program Compatibility Assistant Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Use after free in Windows Program Compatibility Assistant Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Other sources
Windows Program Compatibility Assistant Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
— Microsoft
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 10.0.26100.9711Patch KB5127648 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 10.0.28000.3231Patch KB5127646 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 10.0.26100.33650Patch KB5126646 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 10.0.26300.9711Patch KB5127648 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 10.0.26200.9711Patch KB5127648 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 10.0.20348.5761Patch KB5126655 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 10.0.22631.7652Patch KB5126653
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is exposed to this vulnerability?
Systems running the affected Microsoft Windows 11, Windows Server 2025, or Windows Server 2022 products are in scope. Exploitation is local rather than network-based.
What access does an attacker need to exploit it?
An attacker must already be authorized on the affected system and have local access. The supplied vector indicates low privileges are required, but exploitation has high attack complexity and does not require user interaction.
What is the likely impact of successful exploitation?
Successful exploitation can elevate the attacker's privileges locally. The provided metrics indicate high potential impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.