CVE-2026-26181
Published: 14 April 2026
Summary
CVE-2026-26181 is a high-severity Race Condition (CWE-362) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 11 23H2. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked at the 13.6th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-16 (Memory Protection) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Directly remediates the use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Brokering File System by requiring timely application of vendor patches.
Provides memory protections like ASLR and non-executable memory that mitigate exploitation of use-after-free flaws in system components.
Enforces least privilege for local users, limiting the scope and impact of privilege escalation from low-privilege exploitation.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Local use-after-free vulnerability in a Windows system component directly enables exploitation for privilege escalation from low-privileged local access.
NVD Description
Use after free in Microsoft Brokering File System allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2026-26181 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Microsoft Brokering File System. Published on 2026-04-14, it is linked to CWE-362 (race condition) and CWE-416 (use after free), with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). The flaw enables an authorized local attacker to elevate privileges on affected Windows systems where the Brokering File System component is present.
A local attacker with low privileges can exploit this vulnerability through low-complexity techniques requiring no user interaction. Successful exploitation allows privilege escalation, resulting in high impacts to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, such as unauthorized access to sensitive data, system modification, or denial of service.
Microsoft provides details on patches and mitigation in the Security Update Guide at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-26181.
Details
- CWE(s)