CVE-2026-50453 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2026
Out-of-bounds read in Windows USB Audio Class driver (usbaudio.sys) allows an unauthorized attacker to disclose information with a physical attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical out-of-bounds read condition within the Windows USB Audio Class driver component known as usbaudio.sys which operates at the kernel level of the operating system. This flaw specifically manifests when processing certain USB audio device communications and can be exploited by an attacker who has physical access to the target system. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that are particularly dangerous due to their potential for privilege escalation and information disclosure. According to CWE-129, this represents an insufficient input validation scenario where the driver fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries during USB audio data processing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the usbaudio.sys driver which handles communication with USB audio devices including microphones, speakers, and audio interfaces. When a maliciously crafted USB audio device connects to a vulnerable Windows system, the driver processes incoming data structures without proper bounds checking, allowing an attacker to read memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This particular flaw requires physical access to the target system since it involves connecting a malicious USB device that can trigger the out-of-bounds read condition during normal USB enumeration and data transfer operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security implications for Windows environments where physical security controls may be insufficient or compromised. The information disclosure aspect means that an attacker with physical access could potentially extract sensitive kernel memory contents including credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential data stored in memory. The attack vector aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Execution through USB devices and T1082 for System Information Discovery, as it enables both unauthorized code execution and information gathering capabilities. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where USB ports are accessible to untrusted individuals, creating a significant risk in enterprise environments where physical security may be inadequate.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening approaches. Microsoft has released patches addressing this specific issue through regular security updates, making patch management critical for system administrators. Additionally, implementing USB device control policies through group policy or endpoint protection solutions can prevent unauthorized USB devices from connecting to systems. The use of USB port lockdown mechanisms, device whitelisting, and disabling unnecessary USB functionality can significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider deploying runtime application control solutions that monitor for suspicious memory access patterns and implement proper input validation controls within driver code to prevent similar issues in other system components.
This vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing USB subsystems where physical access provides attackers with direct pathways into kernel-level operations. The risk assessment indicates that while exploitation requires physical presence, the potential impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to include possible privilege escalation and system compromise scenarios. Security teams should prioritize patching this vulnerability across all Windows systems, particularly those in high-risk environments where physical security controls may be inadequate or non-existent.