Windows Print Spooler Components: Local privilege escalation via buffer overflow

Summary

A stack-based buffer overflow in the Windows Print Spooler Components allows an attacker with a valid low-privilege account to elevate privileges locally. Successful exploitation can give the attacker SYSTEM rights on the affected machine, which supports ransomware deployment and lateral movement. The attack requires local access and an existing user account, but a phished or compromised user account is enough.

Affected

• Windows 10 Version 1607 (before 10.0.14393.9688)
• Windows 10 Version 1809 (before 10.0.17763.9487)
• Windows 10 Version 21H2 (before 10.0.19044.7846)
• Windows 10 Version 22H2 (before 10.0.19045.7846)
• Windows 11 Version 23H2 (before 10.0.22631.7711)
• Windows 11 Version 24H2 (before 10.0.26100.9974)
• 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 2016, incl. Server Core (before 10.0.14393.9688)
• Windows Server 2019, incl. Server Core (before 10.0.17763.9487)
• Windows Server 2022 (before 10.0.20348.5870)

Fixed in

• Fixed in the November 2026 Patch Tuesday security updates for the builds listed above.
• Build numbers are the first fixed builds according to the CVE record. Take the KB article numbers from the MSRC update guide.

Workaround

Unknown.

• No Microsoft or third-party workaround was found in the available sources. Check the MSRC FAQ and mitigations section before applying any interim measure.

Exploitation

• Not exploited in the wild at publication (MSRC: Exploited: No).
• Tenable rates exploitation as "More Likely".
• CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, not automatable, total technical impact.
• No public proof-of-concept found in the research.
• CISA KEV status not verified.

Our recommendation

• Install the November 2026 security updates on all affected Windows clients and servers, prioritising domain controllers, file and print servers, and terminal servers.
• Check the MSRC table for the exact KB article for each edition.
• Restrict local logon and limit privileges of user accounts.
• Monitor for public proof-of-concept code or a CISA KEV listing and for suspicious Print Spooler activity.
• Disable the Print Spooler service on systems that do not need printing, after verifying impact with Microsoft.

Public exploits iAttack code is publicly available (PoC on GitHub, Metasploit or Exploit-DB).

PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.

Research sources

• Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-112811 msrc.microsoft.com
• CVE Record CVE-2026-112811 www.cve.org
• Tenable: Microsoft November 2026 Patch Tuesday www.tenable.com
• Talos: Microsoft Patch Tuesday for November 2026 blog.talosintelligence.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, 04:15.