---
id: CVE-2026-57968
title: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
summary: >-
  Buffer over-read in Windows Subsystem for Linux allows an authorized attacker
  to elevate privileges locally.
severity: high
cvss: 7.8
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-126
vendor: Microsoft
product: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2)
affected:
  - windows_subsystem_for_linux_wsl2 >= 5.0.0.0 < 2.7.8
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-07-13T00:00:00+00:00'
published: '2026-07-14'
updated: '2026-09-17'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-17T22:33:37.856Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-57968'
references:
  - url: 'https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-57968'
    label: >-
      Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) Kernel Elevation of Privilege
      Vulnerability
tags:
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00333
epssPercentile: 0.26774
ingestedAt: '2026-09-08T17:06:31.901Z'
---

## Overview

Buffer over-read in Windows Subsystem for Linux allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

## Affected

- `windows_subsystem_for_linux_wsl2 >= 5.0.0.0 < 2.7.8`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.