Microsoft Windows Kernel: Use-after-free elevation of privilege
Summary
A use-after-free flaw in the Windows kernel allows a locally authenticated attacker to elevate privileges and execute code with elevated permissions. The attacker must first run a specially crafted application on the target system, so it is not remotely exploitable. The CVSS vector rates the attack complexity as high and no user interaction is needed; a successful attack gives high impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607: 10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows 10 Version 1809: 10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.9487
- Windows 10 Version 21H2: 10.0.19044.0 before 10.0.19044.7846
- Windows 10 Version 22H2: 10.0.19045.0 before 10.0.19045.7846 (third-party source, not verified against Microsoft)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2: 10.0.22631.0 before 10.0.22631.7711
- Windows 11 Version 24H2: 10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.9974
- Windows 11 Version 25H2: 10.0.26200.0 before 10.0.26200.9974
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: 10.0.28000.0 before 10.0.28000.3501
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: 10.0.26300.0 before 10.0.26300.9974
- Windows Server 2016 (including Server Core): 10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core): 10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.9487
- Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.0 before 10.0.20348.5870
Fixed in
- Windows cumulative update released on 10 November 2026 (see the MSRC advisory for the KB article numbers and the full table)
Workaround
- None documented by the vendor.
Exploitation
- Exploitation in the wild: none known at the time of research.
- Public proof of concept: none known (VulDB reports no exploit available).
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- Not listed in the CISA KEV catalogue as far as found.
Our recommendation
- Install the Windows cumulative update of 10 November 2026 on all affected systems, prioritising multi-user servers, terminal servers and file servers.
- Verify the installed build numbers against the MSRC table, as third-party version data could not be fully confirmed.
- Until patched, restrict local logon to trusted users, limit execution of untrusted or unsigned programs, and keep endpoint protection active.
- Monitor for unusual privilege escalation on endpoints and servers.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Kernel
- 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
- MSRC Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-105504 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record (CNA): CVE-2026-105504 www.cve.org
- VulDB: CVE-2026-105504 vuldb.com
- Strix: CVE-2026-105504 (third-party, unverified versions) www.strix.ai
- Microsoft Security Advisory: Windows Kernel elevation of privilege support.microsoft.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, 09:47.
Original description (NVD)
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in the way that the Windows Kernel handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could execute code with elevated permissions. To exploit the vulnerability, a locally authenticated attacker could run a specially crafted application. The security update addresses the vulnerability by ensuring the Windows Kernel properly handles objects in memory.
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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