CVE-2026-81964: Windows Update Orchestrator Service Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

Overview

Severity
Medium (CVSS 5.5)
CVSS Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
Category
Security Feature Bypass
Exploit Status
Not Exploited
Exploitation Likelihood
Less Likely
Patch Tuesday
2026-Oct
Released
2026-10-13

Description

Use of hard-coded credentials in Windows Update Orchestrator Service allows an authorized attacker to bypass a security feature locally.

FAQ

What kind of security feature could be bypassed by successfully exploiting this vulnerability? Successful exploitation could bypass provider-registration validation in Windows Update Orchestrator, allowing a local authenticated attacker to register unauthorized provider state.

Affected Products (20)

Windows

  • Windows 11 Version 26H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 26H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2022
  • Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows 10 Version 21H2 for 32-bit Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)
  • Windows 11 Version 25H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 25H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows Server 2025
  • Windows 11 version 26H1 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 11 Version 26H1 for ARM64-based Systems

ESU

  • Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
  • Windows 10 Version 22H2 for 32-bit Systems

Security Updates (6)

Acknowledgments

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/artemy-tsetsersky/">Artemy Tsetsersky</a> with <a href="https://angarasecurity.com/">Angara Security</a>, Anonymous

Revision History

  • 2026-10-13: Information published.