Description
Concurrent execution using shared resource with improper synchronization ('race condition') in Windows Media allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Published: 2026-07-14
Score: 7 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Impact

A race condition exists within the Windows Media component that arises during concurrent execution of a shared resource. The improper synchronization allows an attacker with local or authenticated access to trigger a sequence that results in a use‑after‑free condition, identified as CWE-362 and CWE-416. If successfully exploited, the attacker can run processes with higher security clearance, potentially compromising the entire system.

Affected Systems

Microsoft Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26 H1 are affected. Versions 24H2 and 25H2 are available for arm64 architectures, while 26H1 is delivered for x64 systems.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 7.0 denotes significant severity, though the EPSS score of less than 1 % suggests a low likelihood of widespread exploitation. It is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The attack vector is local, requiring an attacker to be authenticated on the target system or have physical access to execute the privilege escalation scenario.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on July 31, 2026 at 08:18 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2026-50404 via Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog with the patched code.
  • Ensure the update is distributed to all affected Windows 11 versions (24H2, 25H2, 26H1) on both arm64 and x64 architectures as listed in the advisory.
  • If immediate patching is not feasible, disable or restrict Windows Media functionality to mitigate risk until the update can be applied.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on July 31, 2026 at 08:18 UTC.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Concurrent execution using shared resource with improper synchronization ('race condition') in Windows Media allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Title Windows Media Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
First Time appeared Microsoft
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-416
CPEs 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:*
Vendors & Products Microsoft
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C'}


Subscriptions

Microsoft Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 26h1
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: microsoft

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-03T22:55:10.257Z

Reserved: 2026-06-04T18:56:53.258Z

Link: CVE-2026-50404

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-07-14T19:29:50.400Z

cve-icon NVD

No data.

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-07-31T08:30:03Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-362

    Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')

  • CWE-416

    Use After Free