Windows DPAPI: Elevation of privilege caused by risky cryptographic algorithm
Summary
Windows DPAPI, the built-in Windows component that protects secrets and credentials, uses a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm. An authorized local attacker with low privileges can exploit this to elevate privileges. Exploitation requires high-complexity conditions, and Microsoft reports no known exploitation. The flaw is fixed by the November 10, 2026 security updates.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016 (including Server Core): 10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows 10 Version 1809 and Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core): 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
Fixed in
- Security updates from November 10, 2026 (Microsoft Patch Tuesday)
- Fixed builds according to the CVE record: 10.0.14393.9688, 10.0.17763.9487, 10.0.19044.7846, 10.0.19045.7846, 10.0.22631.7711, 10.0.26100.9974, 10.0.26200.9974, 10.0.28000.3501, 10.0.26300.9974, 10.0.20348.5870
- KB numbers: Unknown. Verify them in the MSRC Security Update Guide or the Microsoft Update Catalog before deployment.
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor mitigation guidance is available. Install the security update.
Exploitation
- Microsoft lists the vulnerability as not exploited.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, not automatable, total technical impact.
- Rapid7 rates exploitation as unlikely.
- No public proof of concept found. This does not confirm that none exists.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 10, 2026 security updates in the normal monthly cycle.
- Prioritize terminal servers (RDS) and multi-user PCs, where a local user could reach another user's protected data.
- Confirm the fixed build and KB number in the MSRC Security Update Guide before rollout.
- Restrict local logons and limit standard user accounts on shared systems.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows DPAPI (Data Protection Application Programming Interface)
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation unlikely
- 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-2026-113763 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE.org CNA record CVE-2026-113763 www.cve.org
- Rapid7: Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.rapid7.com
- Senserva: KB5131087 senserva.com
- BleepingComputer: Microsoft November 2026 Patch Tuesday www.bleepingcomputer.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, 13:58.
Original description (NVD)
Use of a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm in Windows DPAPI (Data Protection Application Programming Interface) 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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