Cyber Resilience

CVE-2026-50360

Auth Bypass in Microsoft Windows 10 21H2 ≤ 10.0.19044.7548

Published
14 July 2026
Modified
23 July 2026
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0053 42th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2026-50360 is a high-severity Incorrect Implementation of Authentication Algorithm (CWE-303) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 10 21H2. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked at the 42th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to AC-3 (Access Enforcement) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Incorrect implementation of authentication algorithm in Windows SMB Server allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
Why these techniques?

Incorrect auth implementation in SMB Server directly enables remote privilege escalation by an authorized user, mapping to exploitation for privilege escalation.

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-21311Same product: Microsoft Windows 11 24H2
CVE-2024-26248Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 21H2
CVE-2024-43630Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 21H2
CVE-2025-53782Same vendor: Microsoft
CVE-2026-41103Same vendor: Microsoft
CVE-2024-43631Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 21H2
CVE-2025-21224Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 21H2
CVE-2023-29357Same vendor: Microsoft
CVE-2024-49114Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 21H2
CVE-2025-21207Same product: Microsoft Windows 10 21H2

Affected Assets

microsoft
windows 10 21h2
≤ 10.0.19044.7548 · ≤ 10.0.19044.7548 · ≤ 10.0.19044.7548
microsoft
windows 10 22h2
≤ 10.0.19045.7548 · ≤ 10.0.19045.7548 · ≤ 10.0.19045.7548
microsoft
windows 11 24h2
≤ 10.0.26100.8875 · ≤ 10.0.26100.8875
microsoft
windows 11 25h2
≤ 10.0.26200.8875 · ≤ 10.0.26200.8875
microsoft
windows 11 26h1
≤ 10.0.28000.2269 · ≤ 10.0.28000.2525
microsoft
windows server 2022
≤ 10.0.20348.5386
microsoft
windows server 2025
≤ 10.0.26100.33158

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)
  • AC-3 Access Enforcement
  • SI-2 Flaw Remediation
  • AC-6 Least Privilege
Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

prevent

Directly enforces access decisions derived from the SMB authentication result, blocking the unauthorized privilege elevation that results from the flawed algorithm.

prevent

Requires timely remediation of the incorrect authentication algorithm implementation (CWE-303) in the Windows SMB server.

prevent

Limits the scope of privileges that can be obtained even if the network authentication flaw is successfully exploited.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly require correct implementation of authentication algorithms.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

degrades

Secure authentication control directly requires correct implementation of authentication algorithms.

detects

Security testing can detect flawed authentication implementations but does not prevent them by itself.

degrades

Cryptography control addresses proper use of authentication algorithms but is broader than authentication alone.

prevents

Secure development lifecycle includes verification steps that can catch incorrect authentication implementations.

prevents

Application security requirements can specify correct authentication algorithm use but do not guarantee correct implementation.

prevents

Secure coding practices reduce the likelihood of incorrect authentication algorithm implementation.

References