CVE-2026-50476 is a Windows Network Connections Service use-after-free vulnerability that can be exploited for elevation of privilege to SYSTEM. Microsoft rates it at CVSS v3.1 base 7.8 and temporal 6.8. The attack vector is LOCAL, attack complexity is HIGH, privileges required are LOW, and no user interaction is needed. Scope is CHANGED and confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all HIGH. Microsoft says it is not publicly disclosed and not exploited, but exploitation is marked as more likely. This is a high-severity local privilege escalation issue with enterprise relevance where untrusted local access is 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 HIGH. Microsoft states successful exploitation could grant SYSTEM privileges.
- Exploitation likelihood: Exploitation More Likely; the vector is LOCAL with HIGH attack complexity, LOW privileges required, and NO user interaction.
- Severity for enterprise: High severity, but risk is primarily from local attack paths rather than network exposure. Most relevant on systems where attackers can obtain local execution or low-privilege access.
- 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 2012
- Windows Server 2012 R2
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows Server 2022
- Windows Server 2025