Windows Storage: Use-after-free allows local privilege escalation
Summary
A use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in the Windows Storage component allows an authorized local user to elevate privileges. Exploitation requires an existing user account on the affected system and high attack complexity, so the vulnerability is not reachable over the network. Microsoft scores it 7.0 (CVSS 3.1, High).
Affected
- Windows 11 version 23H2: builds 10.0.22631.0 to before 10.0.22631.7711
- Windows 11 version 24H2: builds 10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.9974
- Windows 11 version 25H2: builds 10.0.26200.0 to before 10.0.26200.9974
- Windows 11 version 26H1: builds 10.0.28000.0 to before 10.0.28000.3501
- Windows 11 version 26H2: builds 10.0.26300.0 to before 10.0.26300.9974
- Windows Server 2022: builds 10.0.20348.0 to before 10.0.20348.5870
- Windows Server 2025 (including Server Core): builds 10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.33822
- Other products listed by third-party aggregators are unconfirmed and not included.
Fixed in
- November 2026 cumulative updates for the products listed above (fixed builds are the thresholds listed under affected).
- KB article numbers: Unknown.
Workaround
- No vendor workaround or mitigation known. Patching is the documented remedy.
Exploitation
- MSRC: not publicly disclosed and not exploited at publication; exploitability assessment "Exploitation More Likely".
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, not automatable, total technical impact.
- VulDB: no public exploit available.
- A Talos note on an exploited November 2026 vulnerability does not identify this CVE.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 cumulative update on affected Windows 11 and Windows Server systems.
- Verify the exact build numbers against the MSRC product table, because the full affected list was not retrieved.
- Prioritise multi-user systems such as Remote Desktop/terminal servers, file servers and shared workstations.
- Restrict local logon rights and keep endpoint protection active, since a local foothold (for example malware or phishing) is the realistic precondition.
- Monitor for unexpected privilege changes and new SYSTEM-level processes.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-119389 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-119389 www.cve.org
- VulDB entry 435191 vuldb.com
- Talos: Microsoft Patch Tuesday November 2026 blog.talosintelligence.com
- Strix: CVE-2026-119389 (third-party, unverified) www.strix.ai
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, 08:52.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Windows Storage 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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