Microsoft Windows Speech: Code injection enables local privilege escalation
Summary
Microsoft Windows Speech contains a code injection flaw (CWE-94) that allows an authorized local user to elevate privileges. An attacker needs an existing low-privilege foothold on the system, for example through a phished account or running malware, and no user interaction is required. The CNA rates the issue at CVSS 7.8 (high) with a changed scope, so a compromised account can affect other components. No exploitation or public proof of concept was found at the time of writing.
Affected
- 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, per third-party aggregator, not verified against MSRC)
- 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 2019 incl. Server Core (before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (before 10.0.20348.5870, per third-party aggregator, not verified against MSRC)
- Windows Server 2025 incl. Server Core (before 10.0.26100.33822)
Fixed in
- Fixed in Microsoft's November 2026 security updates.
- Fixed builds as listed above; the full per-product table and KB numbers were not confirmed from the MSRC advisory.
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor-documented workaround was found. Patching is the expected remedy.
Exploitation
- No evidence of exploitation in the wild found.
- No public proof of concept found; the CVSS vector uses exploit maturity E:U (unproven).
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
- The MSRC 'Exploited' flag was not verified.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 cumulative update on all listed Windows and Windows Server systems and confirm that Windows Update has installed it.
- Identify older Windows 10 1809 or 21H2 systems and confirm they still receive security updates.
- Restrict local logon and limit privileges of user and service accounts to reduce the chance of a second-stage attack.
- Reassess priority if Microsoft marks the vulnerability as exploited or a public proof of concept appears.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Microsoft Windows Speech
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5131085, KB5131096, KB5131090, KB5131087, KB5132061, KB5132043
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-119904 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record: CVE-2026-119904 www.cve.org
- Rapid7: Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.rapid7.com
- Zero Day Initiative: November 2026 Security Update Review www.zerodayinitiative.com
- Strix: CVE-2026-119904 (third-party aggregator) 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, 03:44.
Original description (NVD)
Improper control of generation of code ('code injection') in Microsoft Windows Speech 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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