Windows
CVE-2026-21234
HIGH
Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
-
AccessEstablish local authenticated session
-
ExploitIdentify Windows Connected Devices Platform Service process
-
ExecutionExploit race condition in shared resource access
-
ImpactAchieve privilege escalation to SYSTEM
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Concurrency control, locking
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Local authenticated user account on Windows system with Windows Connected Devices Platform Service running; requires precise timing manipulation of race condition window during service resource access. |
| Impact | CVSS 7.0 (HIGH). Attack vector: Local. Complexity: High. Privileges required: Low. User interaction: None. Exploitable via local access. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to compromise the affected system. |
Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.
Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026
Local privilege escalation in Windows Connected Devices Platform Service exploits a race condition in resource synchronization, allowing authenticated attackers to gain elevated privileges on affected Windows systems including Server 2022, Windows 11 25h2, and Windows 10 21h2. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction is not needed, making it a practical attack vector for users with standard privileges. No patch is currently available.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
Concurrent execution using shared resource with improper synchronization ('race condition') in Windows Connected Devices Platform Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. [CVSS 7.0 HIGH]
RemediationAI
Monitor vendor advisories for a patch.
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 11 packages in microsoft
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
Classified as CWE-362 (Race Condition). Affects Windows 10 1809. Concurrent execution using shared resource with improper synchronization ('race condition') in Windows Connected Devices Platform Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Know when Windows gets its next vulnerability
- Watch products and get an email when something new is published
- Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
No credit card · 7-day full trial
Severity by source
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionCVE.org
Concurrent execution using shared resource with improper synchronization ('race condition') in Windows Connected Devices Platform Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Executive ViewAI
A race condition vulnerability in Windows Connected Devices Platform Service allows authorized local users to escalate privileges to system level. This affects Windows environments where users have local access and could enable attackers to gain administrative control; however, immediate patch availability is limited, requiring interim mitigation strategies.
Disable Windows Connected Devices Platform Service (CDP) if not operationally required. Restrict local administrative access and enforce principle of least privilege for user accounts. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. Monitor for suspicious process creation and privilege escalation events. Segregate sensitive systems from general user workstations. Enable Windows Defender Application Guard and enforce Windows Sandbox for untrusted applications. Maintain aggressive patch management for all other system components and monitor vendor advisories for available patches.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Race conditions occur when multiple concurrent requests exploit the brief time gap between checking a condition and acting upon it (TOCTOU - Time of Check, Time of Use).
Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org
Unauthenticated remote code execution in SmarterTools SmarterMail lets an attacker upload arbitrary files to any locatio
Windows Win32k fails to properly handle objects in memory, allowing local privilege escalation exploited in the wild in
A privilege escalation vulnerability (CVSS 5.5). Risk factors: actively exploited (KEV-listed), EPSS 94% exploitation pr
Windows Internet Shortcut Files (.url) contain an external control vulnerability (CVE-2025-33053, CVSS 8.8) that enables
Windows SMB contains an improper access control vulnerability (CVE-2025-33073, CVSS 8.8) enabling authenticated attacker
An unrestricted file upload vulnerability exists in MiniWeb HTTP Server <= Build 300 that allows unauthenticated remote
FreeFloat FTP Server contains multiple critical design flaws that allow unauthenticated remote attackers to upload arbit
Serviio Media Server versions 1.4 through 1.8 on Windows contain an unauthenticated command injection in the /rest/actio
Mako Server versions 2.5 and 2.6 contain an unauthenticated OS command injection via the tutorial interface at examples/
React Native Metro Development Server binds to external interfaces by default and contains an OS command injection endpo
Command injection in the Windows Shell lets remote, unauthenticated attackers bypass a Windows security feature and then
External control of file name or path in Windows NTLM allows an unauthorized attacker to perform spoofing over a network
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB