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Windows Media EUVDEUVD-2026-44131

| CVE-2026-50676 HIGH
Race Condition (CWE-362)
2026-07-14 microsoft GHSA-w35c-cm4w-qjv3
7.0
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
Temporal: 6.8
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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Obtain low-privileged local access
  2. Delivery
    Launch concurrent Windows Media operations
  3. Exploit
    Win race on shared resource
  4. Execution
    Corrupt privileged 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

Exploitation requires the attacker to already hold valid low-privileged local access to the target (CVSS PR:L, AV:L) - this is not remotely reachable and not unauthenticated. The attacker must be able to execute code that spawns concurrent operations to hit the unsynchronized shared resource in Windows Media, and must win a timing-dependent race (CVSS AC:H), which the SSVC 'Automatable: no' rating confirms is not reliably repeatable. Limiting factors: only Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1 below the patched builds are affected; no user interaction is needed once local access is held (UI:N); and success is probabilistic due to the narrow race window, so many attempts may be required and dependable exploitation is unlikely.

Impact

The signals are internally consistent and point to a real but non-urgent local-EoP issue. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U) confirms a local attack vector, high attack complexity, and required low-privilege authentication - meaning the attacker must already have a foothold and must reliably win a timing-sensitive race, which materially raises exploitation difficulty. SSVC reinforces this: Exploitation 'none' (no observed or public exploitation) and Automatable 'no' (the race resists reliable scripted mass-exploitation), even though Technical Impact is 'total' (full compromise of the affected component). EPSS at 0.24% and the absence of a KEV listing agree that widespread exploitation is unlikely. This is a patch-in-normal-cycle priority - genuinely high-impact if exploited, but gated behind existing access, a hard-to-win race, and no evidence of exploitation - rather than an emergency.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A standard user who has already gained low-privileged code execution on a Windows 11 host (for example via phishing or a compromised application) runs a purpose-built tool that repeatedly races the vulnerable Windows Media code path, and on a successful timing window gains SYSTEM-level privileges to install persistence or access other users' data. Because AC is High and SSVC rates the flaw not automatable, the attacker may need many attempts; no public exploit is 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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AnalysisAIv2 – Jul 22, 2026

Local privilege escalation in the Windows Media component of Windows 11 (versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1) lets an already-authenticated, low-privileged user win a race condition to elevate to higher privileges on the local machine. Reported by Microsoft and carrying CVSS 7.0, it has an SSVC technical impact of 'total' but an SSVC exploitation status of 'none' and a low EPSS of 0.24% (16th percentile); a vendor patch is available and there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
v1 Jul 14, 2026 - 19:44 CVSS 7.8

Local privilege escalation in the Windows Media component of Windows 11 (versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1) allows an already-authenticated local attacker to win a race condition and gain SYSTEM-level privileges. Rated CVSS 7.8 (High), the flaw stems from improper synchronization of a shared resource; there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and it is not listed in CISA KEV. Microsoft has released a patch via the MSRC update guide.

RemediationAI

Apply the Microsoft security update that raises the affected component to the fixed build for your branch: Vendor-released patch - 10.0.26100.8875 for 24H2, 10.0.26200.8875 for 25H2, and 10.0.28000.2525 for 26H1; consult https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-50676 for the exact KB and deploy via Windows Update or WSUS/Intune. No vendor-supplied workaround is published, which is expected for a component-level race condition where no configuration toggle removes the vulnerable code path; until patched, reduce exposure by enforcing least privilege so untrusted or standard users cannot run arbitrary code on the host (since PR:L local access is a prerequisite), restricting interactive and remote logon rights on high-value systems, and prioritizing multi-user or shared hosts where a low-privileged foothold is more likely. These access controls do not remove the flaw and may constrain legitimate multi-user workflows, so patching remains the only complete fix.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.8875
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.8875
Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.2525

Affected Packages

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: 10.0.28000.2525

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 3 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 root cause is CWE-362, concurrent execution using a shared resource with improper synchronization (a race condition), located in Windows Media - the multimedia handling subsystem of the Windows operating system. Because access to a shared resource is not properly serialized, an attacker who can run concurrent threads or processes can exploit the timing window between a check and the use of that resource (a TOCTOU-style flaw) to manipulate state the code assumes is stable, causing privileged operations to execute against attacker-controlled data. CPE data scopes this strictly to Microsoft Windows 11 version 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY HIGH
NVD 7.0 HIGH
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CIRCL (temporal) 6.8 MEDIUM
vuln.today AI 7.0 HIGH

Local authenticated foothold gives AV:L/PR:L; the timing-sensitive race yields AC:H; full local component compromise gives C:H/I:H/A:H with unchanged scope.

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 VectorNVD

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

Lifecycle Timeline

2
CVSS changed
Jul 22, 2026 - 16:22 NVD
7.8 (HIGH) 7.0 (HIGH)
CVE Published
Jul 14, 2026 - 17:08 nvd
HIGH 7.8

DescriptionNVD

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

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Windows Media in Windows 11 (versions 24H2, 25H2, 26H1) contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability (CVSS 7.0) enabling low-privileged users to gain elevated system permissions through a race condition. While no public exploit has been identified, the vulnerability expands insider threat exposure across Windows 11 deployments and requires patching to prevent lateral movement by local users.

Business Impact: Medium
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.2%
Top 84% exploitable
Prevalence
Ubiquitous
Windows 11 is deployed across a huge fraction of enterprise and consumer endpoints
Vendor Action
See Below
Required. The vulnerability documented by this CVE requires customer action to resolve.
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Unlikely
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
Medium
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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