CVE-2026-50697 is a Windows Common Log File System Driver elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting multiple Windows client and server releases. 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, it can impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability at HIGH levels. Microsoft reports no public disclosure and no known exploitation, with exploit code maturity UNPROVEN and exploitation unlikely. Because this is a local privilege escalation issue rather than a network-exposed remote attack, enterprise risk is primarily on systems where untrusted local code or users are present.

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 with HIGH confidentiality, HIGH integrity, and HIGH availability impacts.
- Exploitation likelihood: Exploitation Unlikely; LOCAL vector, LOW attack complexity, LOW privileges required, and NO user interaction.
- Severity for enterprise: High-severity local privilege escalation; lower risk for internet-facing services because exploitation is local-only, but still relevant on multi-user or attacker-accessible Windows systems.
- 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