Microsoft Windows Audio Service: Local privilege escalation via race condition
Summary
The Windows Audio Service in several Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 builds contains a race condition caused by improper synchronization of a shared resource. A local attacker with low privileges and no user interaction can exploit it to gain elevated privileges on the system. The attacker needs an existing local foothold, such as a standard user account or code already running as a user, and must win the race condition. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.0 (High).
Affected
- Windows 11 Version 24H2: builds 10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.9974
- Windows 11 Version 25H2: builds 10.0.26200.0 to before 10.0.26200.9974
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: builds 10.0.28000.0 to before 10.0.28000.3501
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: builds 10.0.26300.0 to before 10.0.26300.9974
- Windows Server 2025 (including Server Core): builds 10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.33822
Fixed in
- Windows 11 Version 24H2: build 10.0.26100.9974 or later
- Windows 11 Version 25H2: build 10.0.26200.9974 or later
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: build 10.0.28000.3501 or later
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: build 10.0.26300.9974 or later
- Windows Server 2025 (including Server Core): build 10.0.26100.33822 or later
KB numbers: Unknown. Check the Microsoft Security Update Guide for the KB that matches each build.
Workaround
Unknown. No workaround or mitigation has been published for this CVE.
Exploitation
- No known exploitation in the wild, based on the available sources.
- CISA SSVC assessment: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
- CVSS exploit code maturity is Unproven (E:U).
- No public proof of concept was found.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 security update on all affected Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 systems, and verify the build number afterwards.
- Prioritise multi-user systems such as terminal servers, RDS hosts and shared workstations.
- Limit local logon rights and remove unused local accounts.
- Monitor for unexpected privilege changes and for new services or processes running as SYSTEM.
- Recheck CISA KEV, the EPSS score and the MSRC exploitability rating after the advisory has been reviewed.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-119893 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-119893 (CVE Program) www.cve.org
- Strix: CVE-2026-119893 (third-party tracker) www.strix.ai
- Rapid7: Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.rapid7.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 11 Nov 2026, 08:31.
Original description (NVD)
Concurrent execution using shared resource with improper synchronization ('race condition') in Windows Audio Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
Affected? We can help.
We check whether your systems are affected, install updates and close the gap – continuously with the System Health Checker if you wish.