Local privilege escalation via Graphics Kernel race
Published Jan 13, 2026 · Updated Jan 13, 2026
Race condition in the Microsoft Windows Graphics Kernel allows local users with low privileges to elevate privileges on affected systems. Microsoft identifies improper synchronization of a shared Graphics Kernel resource but does not disclose the function, object, or conflicting operations involved. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a high-complexity race; success elevates privileges within the same Windows security authority.
Summary
What happened
Race condition in the Microsoft Windows Graphics Kernel allows local users with low privileges to elevate privileges on affected systems. Microsoft identifies improper synchronization of a shared Graphics Kernel resource but does not disclose the function, object, or conflicting operations involved. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a high-complexity race; success elevates privileges within the same Windows security authority.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-20814
- Published
- Jan 13, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 13, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows Server 2019
- Classifications
- CWE-362, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 13, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.8276
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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