---
id: "CVE-2026-40427"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-40427"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-40427"]
title: "Intel QuickAssist Windows driver: use-after-free lets a local user crash the system"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 6.9
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["infrastructure", "intel-quickassist", "windows"]
not_affected_if: ["no-qat-driver", "non-windows"]
published_at: "2026-11-10T17:17:42+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-10T17:22:43+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-10T17:24:03+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40427", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T17:22:43+00:00"}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Intel QuickAssist Windows driver: use-after-free lets a local user crash the system

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-40427 (this .md is for agents)

Some Intel QuickAssist Technology driver versions for Windows contain a use-after-free bug reachable from user-mode (Ring 3) applications. A logged-in local user with low privileges can trigger it to cause a denial of service.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Look for the Intel QuickAssist Technology driver on Windows machines in Device Manager or the installed driver list.
- Compare the installed driver version against the fixed versions in Intel's advisory (unknown from these sources).

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10T17:22:43+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-40427

## From the sources

Use after free for some Intel(R) QuickAssist Technology Driver for Windows within Ring 3: User Applications may allow a denial of service. Unprivileged software adversary with an authenticated user combined with a low complexity attack may enable denial of service. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are not present without special internal knowledge and requires no user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (none), integrity (low) and availability (high) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (none), integrity (none) and availability (none) impacts.

---

_Free to read, with fair use of about 60 pages a minute. For higher limits or API access: sales@infrastack.ai_