CVE-2026-20816
Unknown
Unknown - Not Provided
TOCTOU Race Condition in Windows Installer Enables Local Privilege Escalation
Publication date: 2026-01-13
Last updated on: 2026-01-13
Assigner: Microsoft Corporation
Description
Description
Time-of-check time-of-use (toctou) race condition in Windows Installer allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| microsoft | windows_installer | * |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
KEV
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-367 | The product checks the state of a resource before using that resource, but the resource's state can change between the check and the use in a way that invalidates the results of the check. |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability is a time-of-check time-of-use (toctou) race condition in Windows Installer that allows an authorized attacker to elevate their privileges locally on the affected system. [1]
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
An attacker who already has some level of authorization on the system can exploit this vulnerability to gain higher privileges, potentially allowing them to perform actions that require elevated rights, which could compromise system security and integrity. [1]
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