PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief
CVE-2026-69859 Microsoft CVE debrief
A time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition vulnerability exists in the Windows USB Audio Class driver (usbaudio.sys), which could allow an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally. The CVE record was published on 2026-09-08T18:19:57.273Z and has not been modified since then. The NVD entry is currently Awaiting Analysis. This vulnerability affects Windows environments using the USB Audio Class driver, and defenders should assess exposure and prioritize verifying local privilege escalation risks. The vulnerability has a high severity score and could have significant operational impacts if exploited. Limited details are available about affected versions, exploitation
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows 10 Version 1607
- CVSS
- HIGH 7
- CISA KEV
- Not listed in stored evidence
- Original CVE published
- 2026-09-08
- Original CVE updated
- 2026-10-14
- Advisory published
- 2026-09-08
- Advisory updated
- 2026-10-14
Who should care
Defenders responsible for Windows environments using the USB Audio Class driver should assess exposure and prioritize verifying local privilege escalation risks.
Why it matters
CVE-2026-69859 is a high-severity vulnerability in the Windows USB Audio Class driver that could allow authorized attackers to elevate privileges locally. Defenders should prioritize verifying exposure and assessing local privilege escalation risks in Windows environments using the USB Audio Class driver.
- Verification of local privilege escalation risks in Windows environments
- Assessment of exposure in systems using the USB Audio Class driver
- Monitoring for potential exploitation attempts
Technical summary
The vulnerability exists in the Windows USB Audio Class driver (usbaudio.sys) and could allow an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally through a time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition. This type of vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in Windows environments where the USB Audio Class driver is used, as it could allow an attacker to gain elevated privileges and potentially access sensitive information or disrupt system operations. The vulnerability has been assigned a high CVSS score, indicating its potential severity.
Defensive priority
Defenders should prioritize verifying exposure and assessing local privilege escalation risks in Windows environments using the USB Audio Class driver.
Recommended defensive actions
- Verify exposure by checking Windows environments using the USB Audio Class driver
- Assess local privilege escalation risks
- Monitor for potential exploitation attempts
Evidence notes
The CVE record and NVD detail page provide information about the vulnerability, but limited details are available about affected versions, exploitation, or remediation.
Sources and references
Verified primary and authoritative sources
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CVE-2026-69859 CVE Program record
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified
URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-69859
CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.
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CVE-2026-69859 NVD vulnerability detail
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified
URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-69859
NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.
Supplemental references
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Source reference
Unverified legacy reference
URL: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-69859
Methodology and review provenance
AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.