Windows Kernel: Race condition allows local privilege escalation

Summary

A race condition (CWE-362) in the Windows kernel allows an authorized local user to elevate privileges to a higher level, potentially up to full control of the system. An attacker needs a local foothold and a low-privileged account, the attack is complex, and no user interaction is required. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.0 (High), and the flaw is not remotely exploitable.

Affected

• Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016 (including Server Core): builds before 10.0.14393.9612
• Windows 10 Version 1809 and Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core): builds before 10.0.17763.9376
• Windows 10 Version 21H2: builds before 10.0.19044.7807
• Windows 10 Version 22H2: builds before 10.0.19045.7807
• Windows 11 Version 23H2: builds before 10.0.22631.7652
• Windows 11 Version 24H2 and 25H2, Windows 11 Version 26H2: builds before 10.0.26100.9711 and 10.0.26200.9711 and 10.0.26300.9711 respectively
• Windows 11 Version 26H1: builds before 10.0.28000.3231
• Windows Server 2022: builds before 10.0.20348.5761

Fixed in

• Install the Windows cumulative update that brings the build to or above the fixed version listed for your release in the CVE record (for example 10.0.14393.9612 for 1607 and Server 2016).
• Secondary sources name KB5126868 (October 2026) for Windows 10 1607 and Server 2016. This has not been verified against the MSRC advisory.

Workaround

• None found. Patching is the remediation.
• Where patching is delayed, limit local logons to trusted users and review local accounts on affected hosts. These are general hardening measures, not vendor guidance.

Exploitation

• CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, not automatable, technical impact total.
• Vendor metadata (via a mirror) gives Exploit Code Maturity as Unproven.
• EPSS is about 0.19 percent. A GitHub alert issue reports the CVE is not in the CISA KEV catalog. This has not been verified against the KEV catalog.
• No public proof-of-concept and no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation were found.
• A Tenable plugin page shows an exploit flag, but it is unclear whether it applies to this CVE. Exploitation is unconfirmed.

Our recommendation

• Inventory all Windows 10 1607 and Server 2016 hosts, including servers and embedded devices.
• Deploy the latest cumulative update for each release, starting with the fixed build listed above.
• Check Microsoft's lifecycle and Extended Security Update status for each host. Windows 10 1607 and Server 2016 are near or past end of support, so plan migration.
• Restrict local logons and review local accounts on multi-user systems such as terminal servers, file servers and kiosks.
• Verify the MSRC advisory and the CISA KEV status before closing the ticket.

Public exploits iAttack code is publicly available (PoC on GitHub, Metasploit or Exploit-DB).

PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.

Research sources

• Microsoft Security Response Center: CVE-2026-102207 msrc.microsoft.com
• Vulners: CVE record (CNA data) vulners.com
• Microsoft: Windows 10 1607 security update KB5123099 support.microsoft.com
• Microsoft Learn: Windows 10 1607 and Server 2016 release health learn.microsoft.com
• NinjaOne: KB5126868 www.ninjaone.com
• Microsoft Update Catalog: KB5126868 catalog.update.microsoft.com
• GitHub: CVE-2026-102207 vulnerability alert issue github.com
• Tenable: Nessus plugin 365470 www.tenable.com

Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 4 Nov 2026, 09:52.