Executive brief
A security vulnerability exists in Windows Key Guard, a component of the Windows 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 access sensitive data, install malicious software, or disrupt business operations.
Technical details
A race condition (CWE-362) exists in the Windows Key Guard component due to improper synchronization when accessing shared resources. An attacker with low-privileged local access can exploit this timing flaw to execute code with elevated system privileges. The vulnerability is reachable via local attack vectors and does not require user interaction. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue across affected versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows 10 1809, 21H2, 22H2
- Microsoft Windows 11 24H2, 25H2, 26H1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2019 All versions
- Microsoft Windows Server 2022 All versions
Timeline
- 2026-07-14: disclosed: Initial publication by Microsoft and NVD.
- 2026-07-14: patched: Security updates made available via Microsoft Security Update Guide.