Microsoft Windows Setup and Deployment: Elevation of privilege via double free
Summary
A double free vulnerability in the Windows Setup and Deployment component allows an authorized local attacker to elevate privileges. The attacker needs a valid low-privilege account on the affected system and must overcome a high-complexity attack condition. Successful exploitation can lead to full control of the affected host.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (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 (before 10.0.22631.7711)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 (before 10.0.26100.9974, unverified)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 (before 10.0.26200.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 26H1 (before 10.0.28000.3501)
- Windows 11 Version 26H2 (before 10.0.26300.9974)
- Windows Server 2019 and Server Core installation (before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (before 10.0.20348.5870, unverified)
- Windows Server 2025 and Server Core installation (before 10.0.26100.33822, unverified)
- Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016: not listed in the sources checked; status unknown
Fixed in
- November 2026 cumulative update for each affected version, with the build numbers listed above. KB number: Unknown.
Workaround
Unknown.
Exploitation
- No known exploitation in the wild or public proof of concept according to the sources checked.
- CVSS temporal metric E:U (exploit maturity unproven).
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, not automatable, total technical impact.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 Windows security update on all affected systems, prioritising shared workstations, terminal servers and servers with many local users.
- Verify the fixed build numbers against the Microsoft Security Update Guide before rollout.
- Check whether Windows 10 1607 or Windows Server 2016 are in use and assess them separately.
- Restrict local logon rights and remove unneeded local accounts to reduce the attack surface.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Setup and Deployment
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5131085, KB5131090, KB5131096, KB5131080, KB5131077, KB5132061
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- CVE.org record CVE-2026-105547 www.cve.org
- Microsoft Security Update Guide msrc.microsoft.com
- Third-party mirror strix.ai www.strix.ai
- Rapid7 Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.rapid7.com
- Tenable Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.tenable.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, 09:41.
Original description (NVD)
Double free in Windows Setup and Deployment 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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