Microsoft Windows QWAVE service: Use-after-free allows local privilege escalation
Summary
The Quality Windows Audio/Video Experience (QWAVE) service in multiple Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server versions contains a use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416). An attacker with a local, low-privileged user account can exploit it to elevate privileges, potentially to SYSTEM level. Remote exploitation is not described, and the attack is rated as high complexity.
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, including Server Core (before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows Server 2019, including Server Core (before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (before 10.0.20348.5870)
- Windows Server 2025: Unknown, not listed in the CNA record; verify in the MSRC table
Fixed in
- Install the November 2026 cumulative update or later for the affected Windows release (MSRC lists the fixed builds)
- 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; obtain them from MSRC
Workaround
Unknown. No workaround is documented in the sources reviewed. Patching is the fix. Disabling the QWAVE service is a possible option for CVE-2026-54989, a related vulnerability, but it is not confirmed for this CVE.
Exploitation
- No known exploitation in the wild at publication.
- No public proof of concept found.
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
- CVSS exploit maturity is Unproven (E:U).
Our recommendation
- Patch affected Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server systems in the normal monthly cycle, with priority on shared servers, terminal servers and systems with many local users.
- Check the support status of Windows 10 Version 1607, 1809 and 21H2 systems; systems past end of support cannot be fixed and should be upgraded.
- Verify the Windows Server build versions against the MSRC table, because the Server 2025 status is not confirmed.
- Monitor for unusual privilege escalation or new local administrator accounts.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Quality Windows Audio/Video Experience (QWAVE) service
- 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-2026-119388 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE.org Record CVE-2026-119388 www.cve.org
- Strix: CVE-2026-119388 www.strix.ai
- SentinelOne: CVE-2026-54989 (related QWAVE CVE) www.sentinelone.com
- Windows Forum: CVE-2026-54989 July updates windowsforum.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, 08:53.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Quality Windows Audio/Video Experience (QWAVE) service 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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