A missing authentication vulnerability in the Kernel Memory Access Driver (PSKMAD) used by WatchGuard endpoint security products allows a local, authenticated attacker to bypass the driver's access-control handshake and issue arbitrary privileged commands to the driver, resulting in disclosure of kernel and process memory.
Why It Matters
Analysis dossierWhy It Matters
A missing authentication vulnerability in the Kernel Memory Access Driver (PSKMAD) used by WatchGuard endpoint security products allows a local, authenticated attacker to bypass the driver's access-control handshake and issue arbitrary privileged commands to the driver, resulting in disclosure of kernel and process memory.
High Severity / Review
Unknown
Unknown
Risk basis: Microsoft or Microsoft-managed product relevance; CRITICAL severity; Critical CVSS without confirmed KEV exploitation
Affected Products & Remediation
1 source-backed product- watchguard endpoint security · < 8.00.26.0012 · NVD CPE · Source
Vendor or catalog guidance (source)
Not provided by source
Known exploitation (source facts)
Only what a source states. Unknown means no source has said either way; it is not "not exploited".
- CISA KEV
- Unknown
- Exploited (source statement)
- Unknown
- Publicly disclosed (source)
- Unknown
Suggested hunting (rule-based inference)
SecOps Signal recommendation (rule-based inference). These steps are hunting hypotheses from the vulnerability class; they do not state or imply that exploitation occurred here or anywhere.
Matched authentication-weakness (CWE-306); local-privilege-escalation (CVSS AV:L, CVSS PR:L)
Exposure
- Identify affected authentication surfaces and compare versions with the advisory.Telemetry: Application inventory · A CWE match is not proof of local exposure. · Rule authentication-weakness
- Identify hosts reporting this CVE, prioritising shared or multi-user systems.Telemetry: DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities · A local, low-privilege vector matters most where untrusted users can run code. · Rule local-privilege-escalation
Exploitation evidence
- Review unexpected successful sign-ins and changes to privileged accounts on affected systems.Telemetry: SigninLogs · Access anomalies are relevant to authentication weaknesses. · Rule authentication-weakness
Show more (2)
Exploitation evidence
- Look for low-privileged processes spawning SYSTEM or root-level child processes on affected hosts.Telemetry: DeviceProcessEvents · Hunting hypothesis from the CVSS vector; privilege transitions are a focused starting point, not evidence of attack. · Rule local-privilege-escalation
Response
- Verify the vendor fix and review privileged access after remediation.Telemetry: Identity audit logs · Post-change review checks the response. · Rule authentication-weakness
CISA KEV Record
CISA KEV status was not determined for this record.
Change History & Source Data
— No recorded material change
- CNA / source
- 5d1c2695-1a31-4499-88ae-e847036fd7e3
- Record status · verification
- UPDATED · NVD API
- CPE
- cpe:2.3:a:watchguard:endpoint_security:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Evidence & Provenance
Linked by the query's stored exact CVE association. Review required tables and validation status before use.
DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities| where CveId == "CVE-2026-13043"| project DeviceId, DeviceName, OSPlatform, OSVersion, SoftwareVendor, SoftwareName, SoftwareVersion, CveId, VulnerabilitySeverityLevel, RecommendedSecurityUpdate, RecommendedSecurityUpdateId| sort by VulnerabilitySeverityLevel desc