Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessAuthenticate as low-privileged local user
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DeliveryInvoke privileged WSL operation
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ExploitSwap resource during check/use window
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ExecutionWin TOCTOU race
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ImpactExecute with elevated privileges
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture TOCTOU prevention
|
| Exploitation Conditions | Requires the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) optional feature to be installed and in use on the host, affecting WSL2 versions 5.0.0.0 up to (but not including) 2.7.10. The attacker must already have authenticated local access as a low-privileged user (PR:L) to run code on the machine and interact with the vulnerable WSL operation. Exploitation is limited by high attack complexity (AC:H): the TOCTOU race window must be won through precise timing, which CISA SSVC marks as not automatable, making reliable exploitation difficult; no user interaction by a victim is required (UI:N). |
| Impact | This is a genuine but moderate-priority local privilege escalation, not a drop-everything emergency. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H = 7.0 High) describes a locally-exploitable flaw requiring an already-authenticated low-privileged user and a high-complexity attack - the AC:H reflects the inherent unreliability of winning a TOCTOU race (CWE-367). Multiple signals point the same direction: CISA's SSVC framework rates Exploitation as 'none' and Automatable as 'no' (races are hard to weaponize reliably), while still scoring Technical Impact as 'total' (consistent with full C:H/I:H/A:H compromise of the subsystem). There is no CISA KEV listing and no POC was provided, so exploitation is theoretical today. The EPSS probability was not supplied in the input and cannot be stated. In short, the signals are internally consistent rather than conflicting: high technical impact but low practical exploitability and no evidence of in-the-wild use - this is a patch-in-normal-cycle issue for environments that run WSL, not an actively-exploited threat. One metadata caveat: the input Tags label this 'Information Disclosure,' which conflicts with the description (privilege elevation) and the full C/I/A impact - treat the tag as suspect. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A local, low-privileged user who can already run code on a Windows host with WSL2 installed repeatedly triggers a privileged WSL operation while swapping the checked resource between the time-of-check and time-of-use window, eventually winning the race to act with elevated privileges. Because the attack is local and high-complexity (AV:L/AC:H), the attacker likely needs many attempts and precise timing, and no public exploit code was identified at time of analysis. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026
Local privilege escalation in WSL2 allows an authenticated low-privileged user to gain elevated privileges by exploiting a time-of-check time-of-use race condition. Affected versions are 5.0.0.0 through 2.7.10, and a vendor patch is available. No public exploit code is identified, and the high attack complexity (requiring precise timing) makes reliable exploitation difficult, consistent with CISA SSVC marking it as not automatable.
RemediationAI
Vendor-released patch: update WSL2 to version 2.7.10 or later. Microsoft's advisory is at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-85879. If patching is not immediately possible, consider disabling the WSL2 optional feature on systems where it is not needed, though this may remove Linux compatibility for users. Additionally, enforce least privilege so that only trusted users have local interactive access, reducing the attack surface. No specific workaround is documented beyond upgrading.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
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Technical ContextAI · show details
Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2) is a virtualization-based compatibility layer that allows running Linux binaries natively on Windows, using a lightweight utility VM and a shared filesystem. The vulnerability is a time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition (CWE-367), where the state of a resource is checked and then used without atomicity, allowing a local attacker to alter the resource between the check and the use. This flaw can be triggered by an authenticated local user with low privileges, potentially leading to privilege elevation to SYSTEM or administrative level. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates local access, high attack complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The affected component is likely in the WSL2 kernel or a Windows host service that manages WSL instances, though precise details are not given.
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local-only EoP by an authenticated low-priv user (AV:L/PR:L); winning the TOCTOU race is timing-dependent and unreliable (AC:H); successful exploit yields full subsystem compromise (C/I/A:H).
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Time-of-check time-of-use (toctou) race condition in Windows Subsystem for Linux allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Executive ViewAI
WSL2 contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting versions 5.0.0.0 through 2.7.10, enabling a low-privileged local user to elevate privileges on affected Windows endpoints. This matters because WSL2 is commonly deployed on developer and administrative workstations that often hold sensitive code, credentials, and access to production systems, so a successful local escalation could increase risk of data exposure or lateral movement. A vendor patch is available and no public exploit identified at time of analysis, but leadership should ensure affected endpoints are promptly remediated given the privilege boundary crossed.
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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
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EUVD-2026-100064
GHSA-7xvg-wj2h-x3rp
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB