Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local file-parsing overflow needs no privileges (PR:N) but requires the victim to open a file (UI:R, AV:L); memory-corruption code execution yields high C/I/A within the user's context (S:U).
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Media allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
AnalysisAI
Local code execution in the Windows Media component of supported Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server (2016 through 2025) releases lets an unauthorized attacker run arbitrary code when a victim opens a maliciously crafted media file. The flaw is a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) reported by Microsoft with a vendor patch available; there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis. CVSS is 7.8 (High), driven by full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact but gated by local vector and required user interaction.
Technical ContextAI
The vulnerability lives in Windows Media, the multimedia parsing and playback subsystem built into Windows that decodes container and codec formats when media content is opened or previewed. The root cause is CWE-122, a heap-based buffer overflow, meaning attacker-controlled data (a malformed media stream or file) is copied into a heap allocation without correct bounds enforcement, corrupting adjacent heap metadata or objects and enabling control-flow hijack. The CPE set confirms the affected code ships across the Windows client and server line - Windows 10 (1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2), Windows 11 (24H2, 25H2, 26H1), and Windows Server 2016/2019 (including Server Core), with tags extending coverage to Server 2022 and 2025 - indicating a shared OS media component rather than a single application.
RemediationAI
Patch available per vendor advisory: apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2026-50655 referenced at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-50655, selecting the KB that matches each affected build (Windows 10 1607/1809/21H2/22H2, Windows 11 24H2/25H2/26H1, and Windows Server 2016/2019/2022/2025 including Server Core). The input does not enumerate a single exact fix version, so identify the correct cumulative update per OS build from the MSRC guide rather than assuming one version. Until patching completes, reduce exposure by treating untrusted media files as hostile: avoid opening media from unknown sources, disable automatic media preview/thumbnailing in Explorer (trade-off: loss of preview convenience), and use attack-surface-reduction or application controls to limit which applications invoke Windows Media parsing on high-value hosts and servers (trade-off: potential impact on legitimate media workflows). Because exploitation requires user interaction, user awareness and mail/web content filtering of media attachments provide meaningful additional risk reduction.
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Same weakness CWE-122 – Heap-based Buffer Overflow
View allSame technique Heap Overflow
View allShare
External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today
EUVD-2026-44119
GHSA-7cmc-qq6p-4mv2