Windows Print Spooler: Local privilege escalation through use after free
Summary
A use-after-free vulnerability in Windows Print Spooler Components allows an authorized local user to elevate privileges. The attacker needs local access and a low-privilege account, and exploitation is complex (CVSS 3.1 score 7.0, AC:H). Microsoft has released fixes, and no exploitation in the wild or public proof-of-concept code is known.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (builds before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (builds before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (builds before 10.0.19044.7846)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (builds before 10.0.19045.7846)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 (builds before 10.0.22631.7711)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 (builds before 10.0.26100.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 (builds before 10.0.26200.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 26H1 (builds before 10.0.28000.3501)
- Windows 11 Version 26H2 (builds before 10.0.26300.9974)
- Windows Server 2016, including Server Core (builds before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows Server 2019, including Server Core (builds before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (builds before 10.0.20348.5870)
Fixed in
- Install the Microsoft security update for November 2026 for your Windows version.
- Build numbers per Microsoft CNA record are listed under affected; the fixed build is the version that matches or exceeds these numbers.
- Fixed builds for Windows 10 21H2 and 22H2 are not confirmed in the excerpts reviewed.
Workaround
- No official Microsoft workaround known.
- On systems that do not print, disabling the Print Spooler service is a common hardening step. Check the impact on business applications first.
Exploitation
- No exploitation in the wild known.
- No public proof-of-concept code found.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- Microsoft exploit code maturity: Unproven.
Our recommendation
- Patch all Windows clients and servers with the November 2026 update, including the other Print Spooler fixes from the same batch (for example CVE-2026-113752, rated Critical).
- Disable the Print Spooler service on systems that do not need printing.
- Limit local admin rights and shared user accounts to reduce the impact of an initial compromise.
- Monitor for unusual process activity involving spoolsv.exe.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Print Spooler Components
- 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
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-112792 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE.org Microsoft CNA record: CVE-2026-112792 www.cve.org
- MSRC: CVE-2026-113752 (same Patch Tuesday batch) msrc.microsoft.com
- Third-party KB summary (KB5131090, unverified) senserva.com
- Patch Tuesday roundup (unverified) www.newsbeep.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, 09:17.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Windows Print Spooler Components 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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