CVE-2026-20853
Published: 13 January 2026
Summary
CVE-2026-20853 is a high-severity Race Condition (CWE-362) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10 1607. Its CVSS base score is 7.4 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked at the 6.9th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Likely Mitigating ControlsAI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Accurate timestamps from internal clocks enable detection of race conditions by providing reliable event ordering in audit logs.
Coordination of concurrent security activities reduces the probability that shared resources will be accessed simultaneously without proper synchronization.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Race condition in Windows service directly enables local privilege escalation via vulnerability exploitation.
NVD Description
Concurrent execution using shared resource with improper synchronization ('race condition') in Windows WalletService allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2026-20853 is a race condition vulnerability (CWE-362) affecting the Windows WalletService, published on 2026-01-13T18:16:13.990. The flaw arises from concurrent execution using a shared resource with improper synchronization, enabling an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.4 (AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A local attacker with no required privileges can exploit this race condition to achieve privilege escalation. The attack requires local access and high complexity due to the need for precise timing in concurrent operations, with no user interaction needed. Successful exploitation results in high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Microsoft's update guide at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-20853 provides details on mitigation and patching for this vulnerability.
Details
- CWE(s)