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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Obtain local low-privileged access
  2. Delivery
    Launch process racing the Embedded Mode Service
  3. Exploit
    Win timing window on shared resource
  4. Execution
    Corrupt synchronization state
  5. Impact
    Elevate to SYSTEM privileges

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

Requires the attacker to already hold local, authenticated low-privilege access to the Windows host (PR:L, AV:L) - this is not remotely reachable. Exploitation further depends on winning a race condition (CWE-362) against the Embedded Mode Service: the attacker must reliably hit a narrow timing window during concurrent access to a shared resource, which the CVSS AC:H rating marks as a significant limiting factor reducing exploit reliability. No user interaction by a victim is needed (UI:N). The affected service ships across Windows 10 (1607-22H2), Windows 11 (23H2-26H2), and Windows Server 2016-2025; apply the fixed build for each edition listed in EUVD-2026-100256 (e.g. Server 2022 >=10.0.20348.5761, Windows 11 24H2 >=10.0.26100.9711).

Impact

This is a locally-exploitable elevation-of-privilege flaw (CVSS 3.1 base 7.0, AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U with C:H/I:H/A:H) arising from a race condition (CWE-362) in the Windows Embedded Mode Service. The CVSS vector is internally consistent with the description's 'authorized attacker ... elevate privileges locally': AV:L and PR:L confirm the attacker must already have local, authenticated (low-privilege) access, and AC:H reflects the timing-dependent nature of winning the race window, which materially lowers reliability of exploitation. No EPSS score, CISA KEV entry, or public POC was provided in the input, so there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and no evidence of active exploitation - the practical priority is moderate rather than urgent. Note a signal conflict in the metadata: the vulnerability is tagged 'Information Disclosure', yet both the description and the full C:H/I:H/A:H impact describe privilege elevation (full system compromise), not mere disclosure; treat the impact as EoP and verify the tag with the vendor. Overall this is a credible local EoP worth patching in the normal Patch-Tuesday cycle, but the high attack complexity and lack of any exploitation evidence argue against emergency out-of-band response.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A low-privileged but authenticated user already present on a Windows host runs a program that repeatedly manipulates a resource shared with the Embedded Mode Service, racing to win a narrow timing window during a state transition. On a successful race, the attacker corrupts the service's handling of the shared resource to execute code at the service's elevated privilege level, gaining SYSTEM-level control. No public exploit code was identified at time of analysis, and the AC:H rating means exploitation is non-deterministic and may require many attempts.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.2% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026

Local privilege escalation in the Windows Embedded Mode Service lets an attacker who already holds low-privileged, authenticated access to a Windows host race a shared resource against the service and escalate to SYSTEM-level privileges (CVSS 3.1 base 7.0, AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U with C:H/I:H/A:H). The flaw is a classic race condition (CWE-362) in which improper synchronization during concurrent access to a shared resource corrupts state, and the high attack-complexity rating reflects that the attacker must reliably hit a narrow timing window - a significant exploit-reliability constraint, though no victim interaction is required. Affected builds span Windows 10 (1607 through 22H2), Windows 11 (23H2 through 26H2) and Windows Server 2016 through 2025, and the exposure is limited to machines where an attacker can already obtain local code execution as a non-admin user; no public exploit identified at time of analysis, and a vendor patch is available from Microsoft.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: Microsoft has published fixes for this issue through its standard cumulative update channel, with the minimum patched build per edition being 10.0.14393.9612 (Windows 10 1607 / Server 2016), 10.0.17763.9376 (Windows 10 1809 / Server 2019), 10.0.19044.7807 (Windows 10 21H2/22H2), 10.0.22631.7652 (Windows 11 23H2), 10.0.26100.9711 (Windows 11 24H2), 10.0.26200.9711 (Windows 11 25H2), 10.0.28000.3231 (Windows 11 26H1), 10.0.26300.9711 (Windows 11 26H2), 10.0.20348.5761 (Windows Server 2022) and 10.0.26100.33650 (Windows Server 2025); apply the corresponding update per the advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96932 and confirm the installed build number afterwards. Because exploitation requires an attacker to already run code locally as an authenticated low-privilege user, the highest-value compensating controls until patching is complete are to prune local interactive logon and secondary-logon rights on sensitive endpoints (removing non-essential accounts from Remote Desktop Users and local Users groups), to enforce application control or WDAC/AppLocker so untrusted low-privilege code cannot be launched to race the service, and to tighten privilege boundaries on shared workstations - all of which reduce the population of attackers able to reach the race window at the cost of restricting legitimate multi-user use. If the Embedded Mode Service is not required on a given host (common on general-purpose desktops and non-kiosk servers), disabling or removing the associated embedded-device feature set shrinks the attack surface, though this will break Shell Launcher, keyboard filter and other dedicated-device lockdown functionality and should be validated against device role before rollout; note that the high attack complexity means the race is difficult to win reliably, so detection should focus on anomalous elevation events and unexpected SYSTEM-context process lineage originating from low-privilege sessions rather than on commodity exploit signatures.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows 11 Version 26H2 10.0.26300.0 <10.0.26300.9711
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33650
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5761
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7807
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.9711
Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19044.7807
Windows 11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.7652
Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.3231
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33650
Windows 10 Version 1607 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612
Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.9711
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612

Affected Packages

euvd windows_10_version_1607 fix: 10.0.14393.9612
euvd windows_10_version_1809 fix: 10.0.17763.9376
euvd windows_10_version_21h2 fix: 10.0.19044.7807
euvd windows_10_version_22h2 fix: 10.0.19044.7807
euvd windows_11_version_23h2 fix: 10.0.22631.7652
euvd windows_11_version_24h2 fix: 10.0.26100.9711
euvd windows_11_version_25h2 fix: 10.0.26200.9711
euvd windows_11_version_26h1 fix: 10.0.28000.3231
euvd windows_11_version_26h2 fix: 10.0.26300.9711
euvd windows_server_2016 fix: 10.0.14393.9612
euvd windows_server_2016_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.14393.9612
euvd windows_server_2019 fix: 10.0.17763.9376
euvd windows_server_2019_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.17763.9376
euvd windows_server_2022 fix: 10.0.20348.5761
euvd windows_server_2025 fix: 10.0.26100.33650
euvd windows_server_2025_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.26100.33650

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 16 packages in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The vulnerability is rooted in CWE-362, 'Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization (Race Condition)', within the Windows Embedded Mode Service - the component that supports Windows Embedded/dedicated-device lockdown functionality (features such as Shell Launcher, keyboard filter and write-filter style device restrictions used on kiosks and fixed-function endpoints). When multiple threads or processes reach a shared object or resource guarded by flawed or missing locking, the resulting timing window allows a lower-privileged process to observe or mutate state that should only be reachable by the service's higher-integrity context. The CVSS vector AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H describes exactly that shape: the attacker must already be executing code on the host as an authenticated low-privilege user, the race must be won (hence AC:H rather than AC:L), and no victim action is needed, but the outcome is a full confidentiality, integrity and availability impact because the corrupted state can yield elevated (SYSTEM) execution within the same security scope. This is an elevation-of-privilege primitive rather than remote code execution - it does not bypass network authentication and does not affect non-Local exploitation paths. ENISA's EUVD entry (EUVD-2026-100256) enumerates the specific patched build thresholds for each Windows family, confirming the fix is delivered through Microsoft's standard cumulative update pipeline tracked by MSRC advisory msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96932.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY 7.0 HIGH
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.0 HIGH

Local authenticated foothold required (AV:L, PR:L), timing-dependent race lowers reliability (AC:H), no victim interaction (UI:N), and successful EoP yields full SYSTEM control (C/I/A:H).

3.1 AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).

CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Oct 13, 2026 - 20:20 EUVD
CVE Published
Oct 13, 2026 - 19:22 cve.org
HIGH 7.0

DescriptionCVE.org

Concurrent execution using shared resource with improper synchronization ('race condition') in Windows Embedded Mode Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2026-96932 is a high-severity local privilege escalation flaw in the Windows Embedded Mode Service that affects Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2016 through 2025. An attacker who already holds low-privileged access on a host can exploit a race condition to gain SYSTEM-level control, turning a minor foothold into full machine compromise. Although no public exploit code exists and the attack requires precise timing, the broad install base and the potential for lateral movement and security control bypass make timely patching a priority for security leadership.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 92% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
core Windows OS service shipping in all supported client and server editions
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Less Likely
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

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.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.2%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Defer
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

35
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +35
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

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