Microsoft Windows Storage Spaces Controller: Elevation of privilege via use after free
Summary
A use-after-free flaw in the Windows Storage Spaces Controller allows an authorized local user to elevate privileges. The attack vector is local and requires low privileges and a high attack complexity, so an attacker typically needs an existing foothold on the system. The CVSS base score is 7.0 (High), and the CNA assessment rates the impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability as high.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016: 10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows 10 Version 1809 and Windows Server 2019: 10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9487
- Windows 10 Version 21H2: 10.0.19044.0 to before 10.0.19044.7846
- Windows 10 Version 22H2: 10.0.19045.0 to before 10.0.19045.7846
- Windows 11 Version 23H2: 10.0.22631.0 to before 10.0.22631.7711
- Windows 11 Version 24H2: 10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.9974
- Windows 11 Version 25H2: 10.0.26200.0 to before 10.0.26200.9974
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: 10.0.28000.0 to before 10.0.28000.3501
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: 10.0.26300.0 to before 10.0.26300.9974
- Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.0 to before 10.0.20348.5870
- Further products may be affected; verify in the MSRC advisory.
Fixed in
- Fixed in Microsoft's November 2026 security updates. Exact KB numbers per product: Unknown. Confirm in the MSRC advisory.
Workaround
Unknown.
Exploitation
- Not listed as exploited in the sources reviewed.
- No public proof of concept found.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 security updates on all affected Windows systems, prioritising servers and multi-user systems that use Storage Spaces.
- Confirm the KB for each product in the MSRC advisory and verify the installed build.
- Check whether sibling CVE-2026-69575 and CVE-2026-88100 are also patched, as this CVE alone may not cover them.
- Check the lifecycle status of Windows 10 1607 and 1809 in your fleet.
- Monitor for exploitation news, since local privilege escalation is often chained after an initial compromise.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Storage Spaces Controller
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5131291, KB5131085, KB5131096, KB5131090, KB5131087, KB5132061
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- CVE.org record (Microsoft CNA) www.cve.org
- MSRC advisory msrc.microsoft.com
- Strix CVE details (secondary) www.strix.ai
- Rapid7 November 2026 Patch Tuesday www.rapid7.com
- EUVD-2026-73707 (related CVE) vulners.com
- EUVD-2026-99652 (related CVE) vulners.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 11 Nov 2026, 09:48.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Windows Storage Spaces Controller allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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