High severity · published Oct 13, 2026
CVE-2026-85879
Windows Subsystem for Linux Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
7.0
CVSS
0.2%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
Time-of-check time-of-use (toctou) race condition in Windows Subsystem for Linux allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
High
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.2% · higher than 12% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
WS
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) · Microsoft
5.0.0.0 before 2.7.10 · source: vendor
WS
Windows Subsystem For Linux · Microsoft
2.0.0 before 2.7.10 · source: NVD
Affected product
WS
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2)
Microsoft
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-85879
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-85879
vendor-advisory
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-85879
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