CVE-2026-50433 is a Windows Media Elevation of Privilege vulnerability caused by a use-after-free issue. 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, with low attack complexity, low privileges required, and no user interaction. If successfully exploited, an attacker could gain SYSTEM privileges. Microsoft says it is not publicly disclosed, not exploited, and customer action is required. Because it is local-only, it is a lower risk for internet-exposed services than a network-reachable issue, but it remains important for enterprise endpoints and servers where local code execution or untrusted local users are possible.

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. Successful exploitation can grant SYSTEM privileges.
- Exploitation likelihood: Exploitation More Likely; local vector, LOW attack complexity, LOW privileges required, and NO user interaction.
- Severity for enterprise: High technical severity, but risk is constrained by the LOCAL attack vector. Enterprise exposure is most relevant on endpoints and servers where attackers can obtain local execution or access.
- Patch status: available; customer action required.

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 2012
- Windows Server 2012 R2
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows Server 2022
- Windows Server 2025