CVE-2026-57973: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) Kernel Tampering Vulnerability

mediumpublic exploitCVSS 6.3CVE-2026-57973

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

CSIRTS triage

vendor: Microsoft product: Windows Subsystem for LinuxOther

What: A time-of-check time-of-use race condition allows an authorized attacker to perform tampering locally.
Who is affected: Authorized users of Windows Subsystem for Linux.
Urgency: Remediation is important due to the medium severity of the vulnerability.
Action: Update to the latest version to mitigate the vulnerability.

AI-assisted analysis generated from the source advisory — verify against the original.

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Details

Source: Microsoft Security Response Center (INTL · vendor-psirt · site)
Severity: medium — CVSS 6.3
Published: 2026-07-14
Exploitation: Not in CISA KEV at last sync

Original advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-57973

Exploitation outlook

EPSS (FIRST.org) estimates each CVE’s probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — here is the CSIRTS.com read on those numbers.

Low exploitation riskCVE-2026-579730.16% 30-day exploitation probability — currently an unlikely target, but scores change as exploit code circulates. Riskier than 6% of all scored CVEs.

Referenced CVEs

CVE	CSIRTS overview	External
CVE-2026-57973	coverage & exploitation status	NVD · CVE.org

Same CVEs, other sources

How other CERTs, PSIRTs and databases cover the vulnerabilities in this advisory.

mediumCVE-2026-57973: Time-of-check time-of-use (toctou) race condition in Windows Subsystem for Linux allows an aut…nvd

Recent advisories for Windows Subsystem for

A cluster of recent advisories against the same product widens the attack surface — attackers routinely chain freshly published CVEs on one product, so review these together.

mediumCVE-2026-57973: Time-of-check time-of-use (toctou) race condition in Windows Subsystem for Linux allows an aut…nvd · 2026-07-14
highCVE-2026-57968: Buffer over-read in Windows Subsystem for Linux allows an authorized attacker to elevate privi…nvd · 2026-07-14
mediumCVE-2026-49799: Uncontrolled resource consumption in Windows Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS…nvd · 2026-07-14
highCVE-2026-40378: Memory allocation with excessive size value in Windows Local Security Authority Subsystem Serv…nvd · 2026-07-14
highCVE-2026-57968: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerabilitymsrc · 2026-07-14
highCVE-2026-58632: Windows Win32 Kernel Subsystem Elevation of Privilege Vulnerabilitymsrc · 2026-07-14