Critical

Microsoft Patches 398 Flaws Including a Windows Driver Zero-Day Under Active Attack

The Hacker News
Actively Exploited

Overview

Microsoft has released its monthly security updates, addressing a total of 398 vulnerabilities, including a serious zero-day flaw that is currently being exploited in attacks. This particular vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-68820, affects a core Windows kernel driver responsible for network socket operations. Attackers who already have code running on a targeted machine can exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to execute commands with SYSTEM-level access. Given the active exploitation, users and organizations should prioritize applying the patch to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access. The patch is crucial for maintaining system security and preventing further attacks.

Key Takeaways

  • Active Exploitation: This vulnerability is being actively exploited by attackers. Immediate action is recommended.
  • Affected Systems: Windows operating systems that utilize the affected kernel driver.
  • Action Required: Users should apply the latest security updates provided by Microsoft to close the vulnerability.
  • Timeline: Newly disclosed

Original Article Summary

Microsoft released its monthly security updates on Tuesday, and one of the flaws it closed is already being used in attacks. The bug sits in a core Windows kernel driver that handles network socket operations. An attacker with code already running on a machine can use it to escalate to SYSTEM. That patch goes out first. The flaw is tracked as CVE-2026-68820 (CVSS score: 7.0) and is the only

Impact

Windows operating systems that utilize the affected kernel driver.

Exploitation Status

This vulnerability is confirmed to be actively exploited by attackers in real-world attacks. Organizations should prioritize patching or implementing workarounds immediately.

Timeline

Newly disclosed

Remediation

Users should apply the latest security updates provided by Microsoft to close the vulnerability. The specific patch details are tied to the monthly security update released in October 2023.

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

Related Topics: This incident relates to Windows, CVE, Zero-day, and 4 more.

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