---
id: CVE-2026-57973
title: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) Kernel Tampering Vulnerability
summary: >-
  Time-of-check time-of-use (toctou) race condition in Windows Subsystem for
  Linux allows an authorized attacker to perform tampering locally.
severity: medium
cvss: 6.3
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-367
vendor: Microsoft
product: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2)
affected:
  - windows_subsystem_for_linux_wsl2 >= 5.0.0.0 < 2.7.10
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-07-15T03:58:38.849682Z'
published: '2026-07-14'
updated: '2026-09-25'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-25T18:24:52.466Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-57973'
references:
  - url: 'https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-57973'
    label: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) Kernel Tampering Vulnerability
tags:
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00217
epssPercentile: 0.10775
ingestedAt: '2026-09-08T17:06:31.902Z'
---

## Overview

Time-of-check time-of-use (toctou) race condition in Windows Subsystem for Linux allows an authorized attacker to perform tampering locally.

## Affected

- `windows_subsystem_for_linux_wsl2 >= 5.0.0.0 < 2.7.10`

## Remediation

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