Executive brief
A security vulnerability exists in the core graphics and window management component of Microsoft Windows. This flaw allows a user who already has basic access to a computer to gain full administrative control. This could lead to the unauthorized viewing of sensitive data, the installation of malicious software, or the disruption of critical business operations.
Technical details
A race condition vulnerability (CWE-362) exists in the Windows Win32K kernel-mode driver due to improper synchronization when accessing shared resources. An attacker with local access and low-level privileges can exploit this flaw by timing specific execution threads to trigger a synchronization error. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to bypass security boundaries and execute code with elevated (SYSTEM) privileges. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue across multiple versions of Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.
Affected products
- Microsoft Windows 10 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2
- Microsoft Windows 11 24H2, 25H2, 26H1
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Standard and Server Core
Timeline
- 2026-07-14: disclosed
- 2026-07-14: advisory