📄 Description (English)
Use after free in Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2026-35418 is a use-after-free vulnerability in Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver affecting Windows 10 and 11 systems. An authorized local attacker can exploit this flaw to achieve privilege escalation. With a CVSS score of 7.8 and no patch currently available, this poses a significant risk to Saudi organizations relying on Windows infrastructure, particularly those using cloud file synchronization features.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 18, 2026 06:02
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions), government agencies (NCA oversight), and large enterprises using Windows 10/11 with cloud file synchronization. Organizations in healthcare, energy (ARAMCO), and telecommunications (STC) sectors are particularly vulnerable. The privilege escalation capability could enable lateral movement within corporate networks, potentially compromising sensitive data and critical systems. Government entities and financial institutions managing classified or sensitive information face elevated risk.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Large Enterprises
Education
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1548.004 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Elevated Execution with Prompt
T1134.003 - Access Token Manipulation: Make and Impersonate Token
T1547.001 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
T1543.003 - Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service
T1112 - Modify Registry
T1574.012 - Hijack Execution Flow: COR_PROFILER Environment Variable
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
7.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Inventory all Windows 10 (versions 1809, 21H2, 22H2) and Windows 11 (23H2) systems across your organization
2. Disable Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver if not essential: Open Services (services.msc) and disable 'Cloud Files Mini Filter' service
3. Restrict local administrative access and enforce principle of least privilege
4. Monitor for suspicious privilege escalation attempts in Event Viewer (Event ID 4688, 4689)
COMPENSATING CONTROLS:
5. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation tools
6. Enable Windows Defender Exploit Guard and Attack Surface Reduction rules
7. Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions with behavioral monitoring
8. Enforce multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts
9. Implement file integrity monitoring on critical system files
DETECTION RULES:
- Monitor for abnormal process creation from cloud file sync processes
- Alert on unexpected service modifications or driver loading
- Track access to kernel memory or driver-related APIs
- Monitor Windows Event Log for privilege escalation indicators
PATCHING:
- Monitor Microsoft Security Updates regularly for patch availability
- Prepare patch deployment procedures for immediate application once available
- Test patches in isolated environments before enterprise deployment
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. قم بحصر جميع أنظمة Windows 10 (الإصدارات 1809 و21H2 و22H2) و Windows 11 (23H2) عبر مؤسستك
2. قم بتعطيل برنامج تشغيل Cloud Files Mini Filter إذا لم يكن ضرورياً: افتح Services (services.msc) وعطّل خدمة 'Cloud Files Mini Filter'
3. قيّد الوصول الإداري المحلي وفرض مبدأ الامتياز الأقل
4. راقب محاولات تصعيد الامتيازات المريبة في Event Viewer (معرّف الحدث 4688، 4689)
الضوابط التعويضية:
5. طبّق قائمة التطبيقات المسموحة لمنع أدوات تصعيد الامتيازات غير المصرح بها
6. فعّل Windows Defender Exploit Guard وقواعد تقليل سطح الهجوم
7. نشّر حلول الكشف والاستجابة للنقاط النهائية (EDR) مع المراقبة السلوكية
8. فرض المصادقة متعددة العوامل للحسابات الإدارية
9. طبّق مراقبة سلامة الملفات على ملفات النظام الحرجة
قواعد الكشف:
- راقب إنشاء العمليات غير الطبيعي من عمليات مزامنة الملفات السحابية
- أصدر تنبيهات عند تعديلات الخدمة غير المتوقعة أو تحميل برنامج التشغيل
- تتبع الوصول إلى ذاكرة النواة أو واجهات برمجة التطبيقات المتعلقة بالبرنامج
- راقب سجل أحداث Windows للمؤشرات المتعلقة بتصعيد الامتيازات
التصحيح:
- راقب تحديثات أمان Microsoft بانتظام لتوفر التصحيحات
- جهّز إجراءات نشر التصحيحات للتطبيق الفوري عند توفرها
- اختبر التصحيحات في بيئات معزولة قبل نشرها على المستوى الإداري
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 - 5.1.1: Access Control and Authentication
ECC 2024 - 5.2.1: Privilege Management
ECC 2024 - 5.3.1: System Hardening
ECC 2024 - 6.1.1: Vulnerability Management
ECC 2024 - 6.2.1: Patch Management
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF - Governance: Risk Management and Compliance
SAMA CSF - Protect: Access Control
SAMA CSF - Protect: System Hardening
SAMA CSF - Detect: Vulnerability Management
SAMA CSF - Respond: Incident Response
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 - A.5.15: Access Control
ISO 27001:2022 - A.5.16: Authentication
ISO 27001:2022 - A.5.18: Management of Privileged Access Rights
ISO 27001:2022 - A.8.1: User Endpoint Devices
ISO 27001:2022 - A.8.2: Privileged Access Rights
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 4.0 - Requirement 2: Apply Secure Configurations
PCI DSS 4.0 - Requirement 6: Develop and Maintain Secure Systems
PCI DSS 4.0 - Requirement 7: Restrict Access to Data
📦 Affected Products / CPE 20 entries
microsoft:windows_10_1809
microsoft:windows_10_1809
microsoft:windows_10_21h2
microsoft:windows_10_21h2
microsoft:windows_10_21h2
microsoft:windows_10_22h2
microsoft:windows_10_22h2
microsoft:windows_10_22h2
microsoft:windows_11_23h2
microsoft:windows_11_23h2
microsoft:windows_11_24h2
microsoft:windows_11_24h2
microsoft:windows_11_25h2
microsoft:windows_11_25h2
microsoft:windows_11_26h1
microsoft:windows_11_26h1
microsoft:windows_server_2019
microsoft:windows_server_2022
microsoft:windows_server_2022_23h2
microsoft:windows_server_2025