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CVE-2026-70118: Windows audio service may let attackers gain admin rights

CVE-2026-70118 · published 22 days ago

Summary

The audio service in Windows 11 (versions 24H2, 25H2, 26H1, 26H2) and Windows Server 2025 can be tricked into giving a local user higher privileges. This could allow a person with a standard account to act as an administrator on the machine. Apply the latest Microsoft security updates as soon as possible to fix the issue.

What to do

Update microsoft windows 11 version 24h2 to version 10.0.26100.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 25h2 to version 10.0.26200.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 26h1 to version 10.0.28000.3231 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 26h2 to version 10.0.26300.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2025 to version 10.0.26100.33650 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2025 (server core installation) to version 10.0.26100.33650 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_24h2 to version 10.0.26100.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_25h2 to version 10.0.26200.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_26h1 to version 10.0.28000.3231 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_26h2 to version 10.0.26300.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2025 to version 10.0.26100.33650 or later.

Affected software

Vendor	Product	Affected versions
microsoft	windows 11 version 24h2	< 10.0.26100.9711
microsoft	windows 11 version 25h2	< 10.0.26200.9711
microsoft	windows 11 version 26h1	< 10.0.28000.3231
microsoft	windows 11 version 26h2	< 10.0.26300.9711
microsoft	windows server 2025	< 10.0.26100.33650
microsoft	windows server 2025 (server core installation)	< 10.0.26100.33650
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	< 10.0.26100.9711 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	< 10.0.26200.9711 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_26h1	< 10.0.28000.3231 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_26h2	< 10.0.26300.9711 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_server_2025	< 10.0.26100.33650 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:::::::x64:*`

Original advisory text

Windows Audio Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Use after free in Windows Audio Service allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-70118 vendor-advisory patch

Fix within

Internet-facing 14 days

Internal At next upgrade

Not known to be exploited
Needs hands-on effort to exploit
Gives an attacker full control

Severity

7.0 High

Exploitation

<1% chance of attack within 30 days

Type

CWE-416Use After Free

Timeline

Published13 Oct 2026

Updated3 Nov 2026

First seen13 Oct 2026

Sources

CVE-2026-70118 · NVD

CVE-2026-70118 · MITRE

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