📄 Description (English)
Use after free in Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2026-40408 is a use-after-free vulnerability in Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers affecting multiple Windows 10 versions, allowing authorized local attackers to escalate privileges. With a CVSS score of 7.8 and no patch currently available, this poses a significant risk to Saudi organizations relying on Windows infrastructure. The vulnerability requires local access but enables complete system compromise once exploited.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 19, 2026 06:18
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses critical risk to Saudi banking sector (SAMA-regulated institutions), government agencies (NCA, CITC), healthcare facilities, and energy sector (ARAMCO, SEC). Windows 10 is widely deployed across Saudi enterprises for workstations and servers. The privilege escalation capability enables lateral movement within networks, data exfiltration, and potential compromise of critical infrastructure. Government and financial institutions face heightened risk due to sensitive data exposure and regulatory compliance implications.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare and Medical Institutions
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
Education
Manufacturing
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1548.004 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Elevated Execution with Prompt
T1547.006 - Boot or Logon Initialization Scripts: Kernel Modules and Extensions
T1547.008 - Boot or Logon Initialization Scripts: LSASS Driver
T1134.003 - Access Token Manipulation: Make and Impersonate Token
T1543.003 - Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Inventory all Windows 10 systems (versions 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2) across your organization
2. Restrict local administrative access and enforce principle of least privilege
3. Disable unnecessary kernel-mode drivers and remove unused device drivers
4. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized driver loading
Compensating Controls (until patch available):
5. Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions with kernel-mode monitoring
6. Enable Windows Defender Exploit Guard and Attack Surface Reduction rules
7. Implement Device Guard/Hypervisor Code Integrity (HVCI) where supported
8. Monitor for suspicious driver loading and memory access patterns
9. Enforce code integrity policies and disable unsigned driver installation
10. Conduct security awareness training on social engineering and malware vectors
Detection Rules:
- Monitor Event ID 6 (Driver Loaded) in Windows logs for unsigned drivers
- Alert on kernel-mode memory access violations and exception handling anomalies
- Track process creation with SYSTEM privileges from non-system accounts
- Monitor for abnormal device driver interactions and memory allocation patterns
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. قم بحصر جميع أنظمة Windows 10 (الإصدارات 1607 و 1809 و 21H2 و 22H2) عبر مؤسستك
2. قيد الوصول الإداري المحلي وفرض مبدأ أقل امتياز
3. عطل برامج تشغيل نواة غير ضرورية وأزل برامج التشغيل غير المستخدمة
4. طبق القائمة البيضاء للتطبيقات لمنع تحميل برامج التشغيل غير المصرح بها
الضوابط البديلة (حتى توفر التصحيح):
5. نشر حلول كشف الاستجابة للنقاط الطرفية (EDR) مع مراقبة نمط النواة
6. فعّل Windows Defender Exploit Guard وقواعد تقليل سطح الهجوم
7. طبق Device Guard/Hypervisor Code Integrity (HVCI) حيث يكون مدعومًا
8. راقب أنماط تحميل برامج التشغيل المريبة والوصول إلى الذاكرة
9. فرض سياسات سلامة الكود وعطل تثبيت برامج التشغيل غير الموقعة
10. أجرِ تدريبًا على الوعي الأمني بشأن الهندسة الاجتماعية والبرامج الضارة
قواعد الكشف:
- راقب معرّف الحدث 6 (Driver Loaded) في سجلات Windows للبحث عن برامج تشغيل غير موقعة
- أصدر تنبيهات عند انتهاكات الوصول إلى الذاكرة في نمط النواة والشذوذ في معالجة الاستثناءات
- تتبع إنشاء العمليات بامتيازات SYSTEM من حسابات غير نظامية
- راقب التفاعلات غير الطبيعية لبرامج التشغيل والأنماط غير العادية في تخصيص الذاكرة
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.5.1.1 - Access Control Policies
ECC 2024 A.8.1.1 - User Endpoint Protection
ECC 2024 A.8.2.1 - Malware Protection
ECC 2024 A.8.3.1 - Vulnerability Management
🔵 SAMA CSF
SAMA CSF ID.AM-2 - Asset Management
SAMA CSF PR.AC-1 - Access Control
SAMA CSF PR.PT-1 - Security Awareness and Training
SAMA CSF DE.CM-1 - Detection Processes
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
ISO 27001:2022 A.5.15 - Access Control
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.1 - User Endpoint Devices
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.2 - Privileged Access Rights
ISO 27001:2022 A.8.7 - Access Control for Cryptography
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
PCI DSS 2.1 - Default Security Parameters
PCI DSS 6.2 - Security Patches
PCI DSS 7.1 - Limit Access to System Components
📦 Affected Products / CPE 25 entries
microsoft:windows_10_1607
microsoft:windows_10_1607
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_2012:-
microsoft:windows_server_2012:r2
microsoft:windows_server_2016
microsoft:windows_server_2019
microsoft:windows_server_2022
microsoft:windows_server_2022_23h2
microsoft:windows_server_2025