Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock Type Confusion Elevation of Privilege
CVE-2026-20860 is an elevation-of-privilege vulnerability in the Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock (AFD.sys). The flaw is described as an access of resource using an incompatible type, i.e., a type confusion condition, in the AFD component. Successful exploitation allows a locally authorized attacker to trigger the vulnerable kernel-mode code path and elevate privileges on the affected Windows system. Microsoft and supporting reporting classify this as a local privilege escalation issue with CVSS 7.8, and public reporting notes it was considered 'Exploitation More Likely' at release. The available content does not provide the specific vulnerable function or code path beyond identifying the affected component and the type confusion class.
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Impact
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Exploits
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No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.
Affected products & vendors
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Recent activity
6 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock elevation of privilege vulnerability assessed as 'Exploitation More Likely' by Microsoft; no exploitation reported in the content.
An elevation-of-privilege vulnerability in the Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock that Microsoft assessed as more likely to be exploited.
A local elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock caused by type confusion.
A Windows Ancillary Function Driver for WinSock elevation-of-privilege (EoP) vulnerability that Microsoft rates as more likely to be exploited.
The version that knows your environment.
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Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
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Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.