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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Obtain local low-privileged session
  2. Delivery
    Run crafted program targeting WalletService
  3. Exploit
    Abuse improper privilege management (CWE-269)
  4. Execution
    Elevate to SYSTEM
  5. Impact
    Full host compromise (C/I/A)

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Least privilege enforcement
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

Exploitation requires the attacker to already have a local, authenticated foothold with at least low privileges on the target (PR:L, AV:L) and the ability to run code that interacts with the Windows WalletService component; no user interaction is needed (UI:N) and attack complexity is low (AC:L). Limiting factors: the attacker cannot trigger this remotely or unauthenticated - a prior standard-user session is mandatory - and the affected surface is the WalletService present in the listed Windows 10/11 and Windows Server (incl. Server Core) builds, so hosts already patched with the corresponding Microsoft cumulative update are not exploitable.

Impact

The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U, C:H/I:H/A:H = 7.8 High) describes a classic elevation-of-privilege primitive: local access and low existing privileges are required, no user interaction, low attack complexity, and full compromise of confidentiality, integrity and availability within the same scope. No EPSS score, POC, or KEV entry was provided, so there is no evidence of active exploitation or a public exploit at this time - the practical risk is that of a reliable post-compromise privilege escalation, valuable to attackers who already have a foothold (e.g., malware, a phished standard user, or a low-privilege service). Because exploitation is local and requires an authenticated account, this is not a remote-perimeter emergency, but the H/H/H impact combined with the enormous Windows install base makes it a meaningful patch-priority item for endpoint and server fleets. If EPSS or KEV data later indicates real-world use, priority should be raised accordingly.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who already holds a standard (low-privileged) authenticated session on a Windows host - for example via commodity malware or a compromised user - runs a crafted local program that abuses WalletService's improper privilege management to obtain SYSTEM-level execution. Because the CVSS vector is AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N, no victim interaction is needed and the technique is low-complexity, though it presupposes the attacker's initial local foothold. No public POC was identified at time of analysis.

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 – Jul 14, 2026

Local privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows WalletService allows an authenticated low-privileged attacker to gain SYSTEM-level rights on the host, per CVSS:3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L (7.8, High). The flaw stems from improper privilege management (CWE-269) in the WalletService component and affects a broad range of Windows client and server builds. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and it is not listed in CISA KEV, but a vendor patch from Microsoft is available.

RemediationAI

Patch available per vendor advisory: apply the Microsoft security updates referenced in the MSRC guide at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-49176, selecting the cumulative update / KB that matches each affected build (Windows 10 1607-22H2, Windows 11 24H2-26H1, Windows Server 2016-2025 including Server Core). Exact fixed file versions are enumerated per build in the MSRC page and should be pulled from there rather than assumed. As WalletService has no supported disable switch and is an OS component, the primary control is prompt deployment of the monthly cumulative update via WSUS/Intune/SCCM; where immediate patching is impossible, reduce exposure by limiting interactive and remote-interactive logon rights so fewer low-privileged accounts can run local code, and monitor for anomalous child processes or token manipulation around svchost-hosted WalletService - recognizing these are detective/limiting controls, not a fix, and do not remove the underlying flaw.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.2269
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9020
Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7548
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33158
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9339
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.8875
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9020
Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9020
Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.8875
Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9339
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5386
Windows 10 Version 1607 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9339
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33158
Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.7548

Affected Packages

euvd windows_10_version_1607 fix: 10.0.14393.9339
euvd windows_10_version_1809 fix: 10.0.17763.9020
euvd windows_10_version_21h2 fix: 10.0.19044.7548
euvd windows_10_version_22h2 fix: 10.0.19045.7548
euvd windows_11_version_24h2 fix: 10.0.26100.8875
euvd windows_11_version_25h2 fix: 10.0.26200.8875
euvd windows_11_version_26h1 fix: 10.0.28000.2269
euvd windows_server_2016 fix: 10.0.14393.9339
euvd windows_server_2016_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.14393.9339
euvd windows_server_2019 fix: 10.0.17763.9020
euvd windows_server_2019_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.17763.9020
euvd windows_server_2022 fix: 10.0.20348.5386
euvd windows_server_2025 fix: 10.0.26100.33158
euvd windows_server_2025_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.26100.33158

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 14 packages in euvd

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

Technical ContextAI · show details

WalletService is a Windows system service (WalletService.dll, hosted under svchost.exe) that backs the Microsoft Wallet / payment and credential storage functionality. The root cause is CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management): the service fails to correctly enforce or drop privileges, allowing an already-authenticated local principal to perform actions in a higher security context than intended. The CPE data confirms the defect lives in the Microsoft-shipped operating system components across Windows 10 (1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2), Windows 11 (24H2, 25H2, 26H1) and Windows Server (2016, 2019, 2022, 2025), including Server Core installations, meaning it is an OS-level issue rather than an optional add-on.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.8 HIGH

Local privilege escalation from a low-privileged account (AV:L/PR:L), no interaction and low complexity, yielding full SYSTEM control so C:H/I:H/A:H within an unchanged scope.

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/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
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionCVE.org

Improper privilege management in Windows WalletService allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Microsoft Windows WalletService contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability (CVE-2026-49176, CVSS 7.8) enabling authenticated low-privilege users to gain SYSTEM-level access on affected Windows endpoints. This increases organizational risk for insider threats and post-compromise escalation, potentially affecting hundreds or thousands of client and server systems across your infrastructure.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 84% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Core Windows OS component across Windows 10/11 and Server
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Less Likely
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
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 Yes
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
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

59
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +39
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.

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