Windows: Use-after-free in Windows Audio Service allows local privilege escalation
Summary
A use-after-free flaw (CWE-416) in the Windows Audio Service allows an authorized local user to elevate privileges. An attacker needs a low-privilege account or code already running on the affected system, and the attack complexity is high. Successful exploitation can lead to full control of the system (confidentiality, integrity and availability impact).
Affected
- 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 2025 (including Server Core): 10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.33822
Fixed in
Install the November 2026 cumulative update for the affected branch. Fixed builds: 10.0.22631.7711 (23H2), 10.0.26100.9974 (24H2), 10.0.26200.9974 (25H2), 10.0.28000.3501 (26H1), 10.0.26300.9974 (26H2), 10.0.26100.33822 (Windows Server 2025). KB numbers: Unknown.
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor workaround identified; patching is the remediation.
Exploitation
- No evidence of exploitation in the wild found for this CVE.
- No public proof of concept found.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- Vendor exploit maturity: Unproven (E:U).
- NVD status at time of request: Awaiting Analysis.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 Windows security update on all affected Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 systems in the normal monthly cycle.
- Prioritize multi-user systems, terminal servers and endpoints with weak endpoint controls.
- Verify installed builds against the MSRC advisory and patch related November 2026 Windows Audio Service CVEs together.
- Monitor for unusual privilege changes or new SYSTEM processes on workstations.
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 Response Center: CVE-2026-119894 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2026-119894 www.cve.org
- Rapid7: Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.rapid7.com
- Strix: CVE-2026-119894 (third-party, verify against MSRC) 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, 08:32.
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.
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