CVE-2026-21240CWE-367

Windows HTTP.sys Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

High · published February 10, 2026

CVSS v3.1
7.8
EPSS
0%
Percentile
19.4
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚡ A crafty race condition in Windows HTTP.sys could let an attacker elevate their privileges locally — imagine a runner who slips in just before the finish line! 🏁 Think of this like a game of musical chairs: when the music stops, the authorized user claims a seat, but if someone sneaks in during the gap, they could take over in a flash! If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to leapfrog into higher privileges, potentially giving them access to sensitive system controls — that's like giving a party crasher the keys to the VIP lounge! An attacker could execute malicious commands with the system’s privileges, leading to severe consequences for the system's integrity.

Put simply

Think of this like a game of musical chairs: when the music stops, the authorized user claims a seat, but if someone sneaks in during the gap, they could take over in a flash! This time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition allows an authorized attacker to manipulate resources between the time their request is checked and the time it's actually used, leading to unauthorized actions with elevated privileges.

What to do

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to leapfrog into higher privileges, potentially giving them access to sensitive system controls — that's like giving a party crasher the keys to the VIP lounge! An attacker could execute malicious commands with the system’s privileges, leading to severe consequences for the system's integrity. To protect your systems, ensure you apply the latest security updates from Microsoft that address this flaw. Regularly audit permissions and monitor access logs for any unusual activity. Don’t wait—make this a priority! You've got this! Following these steps will help keep your systems safe and sound. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
7.8 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.00280 · 19.4th percentile
Weakness
CWE-367 · Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition
Published
2026-02-10T17:51Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 10 FEB 17:51Z
    Windows HTTP.sys Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
    cvelistv5