CVE-2026-20844
published 2026-01-13CVE-2026-20844: Use after free in Windows Clipboard Server allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
PriorityP345high7.4CVSS 3.1
AVLACHPRNUINSUCHIHAH
EPSS
0.31%
23.7th percentile
Use after free in Windows Clipboard Server allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Affected
36 ranges· showing 25
| Vendor | Product | Version range | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| microsoft | windows_10_1607 | < 10.0.14393.8783 | 10.0.14393.8783 |
| microsoft | windows_10_1809 | < 10.0.17763.8276 | 10.0.17763.8276 |
| microsoft | windows_10_21h2 | < 10.0.19044.6809 | 10.0.19044.6809 |
| microsoft | windows_10_22h2 | < 10.0.19045.6809 | 10.0.19045.6809 |
| microsoft | windows_10_version_1607 | >= 10.0.14393.0 < 10.0.14393.8783 | 10.0.14393.8783 |
| microsoft | windows_10_version_1809 | >= 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.8276 | 10.0.17763.8276 |
| microsoft | windows_10_version_21h2 | >= 10.0.19044.0 < 10.0.19044.6809 | 10.0.19044.6809 |
| microsoft | windows_10_version_22h2 | >= 10.0.19045.0 < 10.0.19045.6809 | 10.0.19045.6809 |
| microsoft | windows_11_23h2 | < 10.0.22631.6491 | 10.0.22631.6491 |
| microsoft | windows_11_24h2 | < 10.0.26100.7623 | 10.0.26100.7623 |
| microsoft | windows_11_25h2 | < 10.0.26200.7623 | 10.0.26200.7623 |
| microsoft | windows_11_version_22h3 | >= 10.0.22631.0 < 10.0.22631.6491 | 10.0.22631.6491 |
| microsoft | windows_11_version_23h2 | >= 10.0.22631.0 < 10.0.22631.6491 | 10.0.22631.6491 |
| microsoft | windows_11_version_24h2 | >= 10.0.26100.0 < 10.0.26100.7623 | 10.0.26100.7623 |
| microsoft | windows_11_version_25h2 | >= 10.0.26200.0 < 10.0.26200.7623 | 10.0.26200.7623 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2016 | < 10.0.14393.8783 | 10.0.14393.8783 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2016 | >= 10.0.14393.0 < 10.0.14393.8783 | 10.0.14393.8783 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2019 | < 10.0.17763.8276 | 10.0.17763.8276 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2019 | >= 10.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.8276 | 10.0.17763.8276 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2022 | < 10.0.20348.4648 | 10.0.20348.4648 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2022 | >= 10.0.20348.0 < 10.0.20348.4648 | 10.0.20348.4648 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2022_23h2 | < 10.0.25398.2092 | 10.0.25398.2092 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2025 | < 10.0.26100.32230 | 10.0.26100.32230 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2025 | >= 10.0.26100.0 < 10.0.26100.32230 | 10.0.26100.32230 |
| msrc | windows_10_version_1607 | — | — |
CVSS provenance
nvdv3.17.4HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vendor_msrc7.4HIGH
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Microsoft
Windows Clipboard Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
vendor_msrc·2026-01-13·CVSS 7.4
CVE-2026-20844 [HIGH] CWE-416 Windows Clipboard Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Windows Clipboard Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Description: Use after free in Windows Clipboard Server allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
FAQ: What privileges could be gained by an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain SYSTEM privileges.
FAQ: According to the CVSS metric, the attack complexity is high (AC:H). What does that mean for this vulnerability?
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to win a race condition.
Windows Clipboard Server: Windows Clipboard Server
Microsoft: Microsoft
Customer Action Required: Yes
Impact: Elevation of Privilege
Exploit Status: Publicly Disclosed:No;Exploited:No;Latest Software Release:Exploit
GHSA
GHSA-7h6f-rh5x-hw2p: Use after free in Windows Clipboard Server allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges locally
ghsa_unreviewed·2026-01-13
CVE-2026-20844 [HIGH] CWE-362 GHSA-7h6f-rh5x-hw2p: Use after free in Windows Clipboard Server allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges locally
Use after free in Windows Clipboard Server allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
No detection rules found.
No public exploits indexed.
Bleepingcomputer
Microsoft January 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes 3 zero-days, 114 flaws
blogs_bleepingcomputer·2026-01-13·CVSS 5.5
[MEDIUM] Microsoft January 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes 3 zero-days, 114 flaws
## Microsoft January 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes 3 zero-days, 114 flaws
## Lawrence Abrams
57 Elevation of Privilege vulnerabilities
3 Security Feature Bypass vulnerabilities
22 Remote Code Execution vulnerabilities
22 Information Disclosure vulnerabilities
2 Denial of Service vulnerabilities
5 Spoofing vulnerabilities
When BleepingComputer reports on Patch Tuesday security updates, we only count those released by Microsoft today. Therefore, the number of flaws does not include Microsoft Edge (1 flaw) and Mariner vulnerabilities fixed earlier this month.
To learn more about the non-security updates released today, you can review our dedicated articles on the Windows 11 KB5074109 & KB5073455 cumulative updates and Windows 10 KB5073724 extended security update .
## 3 zero-days, one ex
Wiz
CVE-2026-20844 Impact, Exploitability, and Mitigation Steps | Wiz
blogs_wiz·CVSS 7.4
CVE-2026-20844 [HIGH] CVE-2026-20844 Impact, Exploitability, and Mitigation Steps | Wiz
## CVE-2026-20844 :
vulnerability analysis and mitigation
Use after free in Windows Clipboard Server allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Source : NVD
## 7.4
Score
Published January 13, 2026
Severity HIGH
CNA Score 7.4
Has Public Exploit No
Has CISA KEV Exploit No
CISA KEV Release Date N/A
CISA KEV Due Date N/A
Exploitation Probability Percentile (EPSS) 6.6
Exploitation Probability (EPSS) N/A
Sources
NVD
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2026-01-13
Published