Windows Audio Service: Elevation of privilege through use after free
Summary
A use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in the Windows Audio Service allows an authorized local user to elevate privileges. An attacker needs local access and a low-privilege account, and exploitation is rated high-complexity. Microsoft rates the impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability as high. No exploitation has been confirmed.
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 (before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows Server 2019 (before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (before 10.0.20348.5870)
Fixed in
- Build numbers as listed under affected versions, from the CVE record. Verify against MSRC.
- KB numbers: Unknown.
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor workaround was found. Install the fix through the Windows update.
Exploitation
- Exploited in the wild: no evidence found. The MSRC exploitation field was not verified.
- Public proof of concept: none found.
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 cumulative update on all affected workstations and servers in the regular patch cycle.
- Check that every listed build is in the rollout, including Server systems.
- Prioritise shared workstations and terminal servers, where many users have local logons.
- Verify the fixed builds and KB numbers on the MSRC advisory before rollout.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Audio 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-2026-119888 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE.org Record: CVE-2026-119888 www.cve.org
- Rapid7: Patch Tuesday November 2026 review www.rapid7.com
- Strix AI: CVE-2026-119888 (mirror) 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, 08:33.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Windows Audio 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.
Affected? We can help.
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