Executive brief
A security vulnerability exists in the Windows Media component of Microsoft Windows 11. This flaw allows a user who already has basic access to a computer to gain higher-level administrative permissions. If exploited, an attacker could take full control of the system, potentially accessing sensitive data or installing malicious software.
Technical details
This vulnerability is classified as a use-after-free (CWE-416) resulting from a race condition (CWE-362) within the Windows Media component. An attacker with local access and low privileges can exploit this flaw by triggering improper synchronization during concurrent execution, leading to the use of memory after it has been freed. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining SYSTEM-level access. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Windows 11, and Microsoft has released security updates to address the issue.
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 to 10.0.26100.8875
- Microsoft Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 to 10.0.26200.8875
- Microsoft Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 to 10.0.28000.2525
Timeline
- 2026-07-14: disclosed: Initial publication by Microsoft and NVD.
- 2026-07-14: advisory