CVE-2026-49171

Windows Speech Runtime Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Published Jul 14, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed

Description

Use after free in Microsoft Windows Speech allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Analysis

Technical impact

A use‑after‑free flaw in the Windows Speech Runtime allows an authenticated local user to invoke code that receives higher privileges. The vulnerability is classified as CWE‑416 and results in the attacker gaining administrative level access, enabling the compromise of system confidentiality, integrity, or availability.

Affected Systems

The flaw affects Microsoft Windows 10 versions 1607 to 22H2 on both x86 and x64, Windows 11 versions 24H2 to 26H1 on ARM64 and x64, and all Windows Server releases 2016 through 2025, including Server Core installations. The issue resides solely in the Windows Speech component.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 7.5 marks the vulnerability as high severity, yet the EPSS score is below 1%, indicating a low current exploitation likelihood. It is not listed in CISA KEV. Based on the description, it is inferred that the attack requires local authentication and execution of the speech service, after which the use‑after‑free can be triggered to elevate to system level privileges.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

Microsoft

Windows 10 Version 1607

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.14393.0`	affected	< 10.0.14393.9339

Microsoft

Windows 10 Version 1809

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.17763.0`	affected	< 10.0.17763.9020

Microsoft

Windows 10 Version 21H2

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.19044.0`	affected	< 10.0.19044.7548

Microsoft

Windows 10 Version 22H2

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.19045.0`	affected	< 10.0.19045.7548

Microsoft

Windows 11 Version 24H2

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.26100.0`	affected	< 10.0.26100.8875

Microsoft

Windows 11 Version 25H2

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.26200.0`	affected	< 10.0.26200.8875

Microsoft

Windows 11 version 26H1

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.28000.0`	affected	< 10.0.28000.2525

Microsoft

Windows Server 2016

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.14393.0`	affected	< 10.0.14393.9339

Microsoft

Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.14393.0`	affected	< 10.0.14393.9339

Microsoft

Windows Server 2019

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.17763.0`	affected	< 10.0.17763.9020

Microsoft

Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.17763.0`	affected	< 10.0.17763.9020

Microsoft

Windows Server 2022

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.20348.0`	affected	< 10.0.20348.5386

Microsoft

Windows Server 2025

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.26100.0`	affected	< 10.0.26100.33158

Microsoft

Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)

affected

Version	Status	Constraints
`10.0.26100.0`	affected	< 10.0.26100.33158

Configuration 1 [-]

OR	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:::::::x86:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:::::::x86:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:::::::arm64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:::::::x86:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:::::::arm64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:::::::x86:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:::::::arm64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:::::::arm64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:::::::x64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:::::::arm64:*
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016::::::::
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019::::::::
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022::::::::
	cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025::::::::

No data.

Vendor Product Versions

Microsoft

Windows 10 1607

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.14393.0,10.0.14393.9339)`	affected	generic	['32-bit_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows 10 1809

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.17763.0,10.0.17763.9020)`	affected	generic	['32-bit_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows 10 21h2

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.19044.0,10.0.19044.7548)`	affected	generic	['32-bit_systems', 'arm64-based_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows 10 22h2

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.19045.0,10.0.19045.7548)`	affected	generic	['32-bit_systems', 'arm64-based_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows 11 24h2

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.26100.0,10.0.26100.8875)`	affected	generic	['arm64-based_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows 11 25h2

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.26200.0,10.0.26200.8875)`	affected	generic	['arm64-based_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows 11 26h1

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.28000.0,10.0.28000.2525)`	affected	generic	['arm64-based_systems', 'x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2016

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.14393.0,10.0.14393.9339)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation)

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.14393.0,10.0.14393.9339)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2019

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.17763.0,10.0.17763.9020)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation)

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.17763.0,10.0.17763.9020)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2022

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.20348.0,10.0.20348.5386)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2025

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.26100.0,10.0.26100.33158)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Microsoft

Windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[10.0.26100.0,10.0.26100.33158)`	affected	generic	['x64-based_systems']

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE‑2026‑49171 via Windows Update or the Microsoft Security Response Center as soon as it becomes available.
If speech services are not required, uninstall or disable the Windows Speech component to reduce the attack surface.
Restrict access to speech services to the minimum necessary accounts and enforce least‑privilege policies.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on August 1, 2026 at 09:52 UTC.

Tracking

Advisories

No advisories available

Metrics

No CVSS v4.0

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity High

Privileges Required Low

Scope Changed

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction Required

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploit prediction score: < 1% (0.300% probability within 30 days)

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

References

Link	Providers
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-49171

History

Nov 11, 2026 1:30 AM First appearance in the feed. Affected vendors updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
First Time appeared		Microsoft windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation) Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation) Microsoft windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)
Vendors & Products		Microsoft windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation) Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation) Microsoft windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)

Jul 15, 2026 12:30 PM Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics		ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

Jul 14, 2026 5:15 PM Description updated. Title updated. First appearance in the feed. Weaknesses updated. Affected versions updated. Affected vendors updated. Added references. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description		Use after free in Microsoft Windows Speech allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Title		Windows Speech Runtime Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
First Time appeared		Microsoft Microsoft windows 10 1607 Microsoft windows 10 1809 Microsoft windows 10 21h2 Microsoft windows 10 22h2 Microsoft windows 11 24h2 Microsoft windows 11 25h2 Microsoft windows 11 26h1 Microsoft windows Server 2016 Microsoft windows Server 2019 Microsoft windows Server 2022 Microsoft windows Server 2025
Weaknesses		CWE-416
CPEs		cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:::::::x86:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:::::::x86:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21H2:::::::x86:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22H2:::::::x64:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24H2:::::::arm64:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25H2:::::::arm64:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26H1:::::::x64:* cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:::::::: cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:::::::: cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022:::::::: cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025::::::::
Vendors & Products		Microsoft Microsoft windows 10 1607 Microsoft windows 10 1809 Microsoft windows 10 21h2 Microsoft windows 10 22h2 Microsoft windows 11 24h2 Microsoft windows 11 25h2 Microsoft windows 11 26h1 Microsoft windows Server 2016 Microsoft windows Server 2019 Microsoft windows Server 2022 Microsoft windows Server 2025
References		https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-49171
Metrics		cvssV3_1 `{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C'}`

Subscriptions

Microsoft Windows 10 1607 Windows 10 1809 Windows 10 21h2 Windows 10 21h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 26h1 Windows 11 26h1 Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2022 Windows Server 2025 Windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)

Weaknesses