Junglewise Threat Intelligence

CVE-2026-40382: Microsoft Windows Telephony Service use after free privilege escalation

CVE-2026-40382 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-05-12

Technologies: Microsoft Windows. Vendors: Microsoft.

Executive brief

A security vulnerability exists in the Windows Telephony Service, which manages phone and modem connections on the operating system. An attacker who already has basic access to a computer could exploit this flaw to gain full administrative control over the system. This could allow them to steal sensitive data, install malicious software, or disrupt business operations.

Technical details

A use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) exists within the Windows Telephony Service. The flaw is triggered when the service improperly handles objects in memory, allowing an attacker to execute code after a memory area has been freed. To exploit this, an attacker must first have local access to the system with low-privileged user credentials. Successful exploitation enables the attacker to gain SYSTEM-level privileges, providing full control over the affected host. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue.

Affected products

  • Microsoft Windows

Timeline

  • 2026-05-12: disclosed
  • 2026-05-12: advisory

References

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