CVE-2026-50457 is a Windows Runtime Elevation of Privilege vulnerability caused by a use-after-free issue. Microsoft rates it 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 reports no public disclosure and no known exploitation; exploit code maturity is UNPROVEN. Because it requires local access, enterprise risk is mainly to systems where untrusted local code or users can run.

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
- Exploitation likelihood: Exploitation Unlikely; vector is LOCAL with LOW attack complexity, LOW privileges required, and NO user interaction
- Severity for enterprise: High technical severity, but lower risk than network-exploitable issues because exploitation requires local access; highest concern is on shared or interactive Windows systems
- Patch status: available; customer action required

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