SYSTEM code execution via callback DLL loading
Published Jul 14, 2026 · Updated Jul 14, 2026
Local privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows WalletService allows local users with standard privileges to execute code as SYSTEM. WalletService resolves the caller-controlled Documents folder while impersonating that user, then opens the supplied wallet database as LocalSystem with ESE persisted callbacks enabled. A standard local account can redirect the folder and supply a callback DLL that the service loads with SYSTEM privileges.
Summary
What happened
Local privilege escalation in Microsoft Windows WalletService allows local users with standard privileges to execute code as SYSTEM. WalletService resolves the caller-controlled Documents folder while impersonating that user, then opens the supplied wallet database as LocalSystem with ESE persisted callbacks enabled. A standard local account can redirect the folder and supply a callback DLL that the service loads with SYSTEM privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-49176
- Published
- Jul 14, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 14, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows Server 2019
- Classifications
- CWE-269, CWE-59, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 14, 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 <10.0.17763.9020
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
- CVE-2026-49176 SYSTEM Shell PoCfunctional · demonstrated
- CVE-2026-49176 Cobalt Strike BOFfunctional · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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