# CVE-2026-35438: Microsoft Windows Admin Center privilege escalation via missing authorization

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-35438-microsoft-windows-admin-center-privilege-escalation-via-missing  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-12. Updated: 2026-05-28  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-35438 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.3 · Published 2026-05-12

Windows Admin Center is a browser-based management tool used by IT administrators to manage Windows servers and infrastructure. A security flaw in this tool allows an attacker who already has basic access to the network to gain higher-level administrative permissions. This could allow an unauthorized user to take control of managed servers, potentially leading to data theft or service disruptions.

Technologies: [Microsoft Windows Admin Center](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows-admin-center). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-35438 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-35438 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-35438?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.3, published 12 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Windows Admin Center versions up to (excluding) 2511.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-35438?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-35438 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-35438?** Check whether you run Microsoft Windows Admin Center at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A missing authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) exists in Microsoft Windows Admin Center. The flaw allows an authenticated attacker with low-level privileges to bypass authorization checks over the network. By exploiting this issue, the attacker can elevate their privileges to a higher level within the management console. This could lead to unauthorized configuration changes or full administrative control over the managed environment. Microsoft has addressed this in version 2511.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows Admin Center versions up to (excluding) 2511

## Timeline

- 2026-05-12: advisory: Initial disclosure by Microsoft
- 2026-05-28: other: NVD analysis and CPE information added

## References

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-35438](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-35438)

## Related threats

- [Microsoft Windows Admin Center privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-122988-improper-authorization-in-windows-admin-center-allows-an)
- [Microsoft Windows RDP information disclosure in Remote Desktop Web Client](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-56171-microsoft-windows-rdp-information-disclosure-in-remote-desktop)
- [Microsoft Windows Admin Center cross-site scripting](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-58643-microsoft-windows-admin-center-cross-site-scripting)
- [Microsoft Windows Admin Center command injection](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-56197-microsoft-windows-admin-center-command-injection)
- [Microsoft Windows Admin Center path traversal remote code execution](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-56196-microsoft-windows-admin-center-path-traversal-remote-code)