CVE-2026-20918CWE-362CWE-416

CVE-2026-20918

High · published January 13, 2026

CVSS v3.1
7.8
EPSS
0%
Percentile
21.8
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚡ A race condition in Windows Management Services could let an authorized attacker elevate privileges locally — a stealthy sprint to the top! 🏃‍♂️💨 Think of this vulnerability like a busy restaurant where the kitchen accepts orders from multiple waitstaff without checking their notes. If one server slips in a VIP request while another is still processing, the kitchen might mistakenly prioritize that order, giving access to the most exclusive dishes — or in this case, system privileges. An attacker could exploit this flaw to gain elevated permissions, effectively becoming a superuser on the system. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, installation of malicious software, or even complete control over the targeted system. The potential for chaos is absolutely staggering!

Put simply

Think of this vulnerability like a busy restaurant where the kitchen accepts orders from multiple waitstaff without checking their notes. If one server slips in a VIP request while another is still processing, the kitchen might mistakenly prioritize that order, giving access to the most exclusive dishes — or in this case, system privileges. This vulnerability arises from improper synchronization of shared resources during concurrent executions in Windows Management Services, allowing an attacker with valid credentials to escalate their privileges unexpectedly.

What to do

An attacker could exploit this flaw to gain elevated permissions, effectively becoming a superuser on the system. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, installation of malicious software, or even complete control over the targeted system. The potential for chaos is absolutely staggering! First and foremost, ensure your systems are updated with the latest patches provided by Microsoft that specifically address CVE-2026-20918. Additionally, review access controls and user privileges to minimize potential misuse. Regular audits can help spot any unauthorized changes or access. You've got this! By implementing these changes, you'll be well on your way to securing your environment. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
7.8 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.00303 · 21.8th percentile
Weaknesses
CWE-362 · Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition'); CWE-416 · Use After Free
Published
2026-01-13T23:16Z
Affected products (11)
ProductVersionsFixed in
microsoft/windows_10_1809< 10.0.17763.827610.0.17763.8276
microsoft/windows_10_1809< 10.0.17763.827610.0.17763.8276
microsoft/windows_10_21h2< 10.0.19044.680910.0.19044.6809
microsoft/windows_10_22h2< 10.0.19045.680910.0.19045.6809
microsoft/windows_11_23h2< 10.0.22631.649110.0.22631.6491
microsoft/windows_11_24h2< 10.0.26100.762310.0.26100.7623
microsoft/windows_11_25h2< 10.0.26200.762310.0.26200.7623
microsoft/windows_server_2019< 10.0.17763.827610.0.17763.8276
microsoft/windows_server_2022< 10.0.20348.464810.0.20348.4648
microsoft/windows_server_2022_23h2< 10.0.25398.209210.0.25398.2092
microsoft/windows_server_2025< 10.0.26100.3223010.0.26100.32230
References (1)
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 13 JAN 17:56Z
    Windows Management Services Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
    cvelistv5