Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition in Microsoft Windows and Windows Server - CVE-2026-119398
Published: November 11, 2026
Vulnerability identifier: #VU165223
CSH Severity: Low
CVSS v4: 7.3 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2026-119398
CWE-ID: CWE-367
Exploitation vector: Local access
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a local user to escalate privileges to SYSTEM.
The vulnerability exists due to a time-of-check time-of-use race condition in Windows Installer when handling application uninstall operations. A local user can manipulate an application's installation state during an uninstall operation to gain SYSTEM privileges.
Successful exploitation requires a system-wide application with specific installation-package characteristics to be installed on the target system.
Affected software
Microsoft Windows
Windows Server
Windows Server
How to mitigate CVE-2026-119398
Install security update from vendor's website.
Microsoft Windows - addressed in versions 10 21H2 10.0.19044.7846, 10 22H2 10.0.19045.7846, 10 1607 10.0.14393.9688, 10 1809 10.0.17763.9487, 11 23H2 10.0.22631.7711, 11 24H2 10.0.26100.9911, 11 24H2 10.0.26100.9974, 11 25H2 10.0.26200.9911, 11 25H2 10.0.26200.9974, 11 26H1 10.0.28000.3501
Windows Server - addressed in versions 2016 10.0.14393.9688, 2019 10.0.17763.9487, 2022 10.0.20348.5870, 2025 10.0.26100.33730, 2025 10.0.26100.33822
Windows Server - addressed in versions 2016 10.0.14393.9688, 2019 10.0.17763.9487, 2022 10.0.20348.5870, 2025 10.0.26100.33730, 2025 10.0.26100.33822