CVE-2026-50331 is a Windows Application Model Core API use-after-free vulnerability that can be exploited for elevation of privilege to SYSTEM. Microsoft rates it as High severity with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 and temporal score of 6.8. The attack vector is local, attack complexity is low, privileges required are low, and no user interaction is required. Microsoft states it is not publicly disclosed and not exploited, with exploit code maturity unproven. For enterprise environments, this is a local privilege escalation issue rather than a network-facing remote attack, so it is most relevant where untrusted local code or users can run on affected systems.

Highlights:
- CVSS scores: Base 7.8 - Temporal 6.8
- Exploit status & code maturity: Publicly Disclosed: No; Exploited: No; Exploit Code Maturity: UNPROVEN.
- Impact: Elevation of Privilege; confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all HIGH. Microsoft says successful exploitation could grant SYSTEM privileges.
- Exploitation likelihood: Exploitation Less Likely; local vector, LOW attack complexity, LOW privileges required, and NO user interaction.
- Severity for enterprise: High severity, but risk is primarily on local or interactive Windows systems rather than internet-exposed services because the vector is LOCAL.
- Patch status: available

Affected systems:
- Windows 10 1607
- Windows 10 1809
- Windows 10 21H2
- Windows 10 22H2
- Windows 11 24H2
- Windows 11 25H2
- Windows 11 26H1
- Windows 11 unspecified
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows Server 2022
- Windows Server 2025