Microsoft Windows Kernel: Use-after-free allows local privilege escalation
Summary
A use-after-free flaw (CWE-416) in the Windows Kernel of Windows 11 and Windows Server systems allows an authorized local attacker to elevate privileges. The attacker needs existing local access with high privileges and the attack is considered complex. Remote exploitation is not implied by the vulnerability description.
Affected
- Windows 11 Version 23H2: 10.0.22631.0 before 10.0.22631.7711
- Windows 11 Version 24H2: 10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.9974
- Windows 11 Version 25H2: 10.0.26200.0 before 10.0.26200.9974
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: 10.0.26300.0 before 10.0.26300.9974
- Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.0 before 10.0.20348.5870
- Windows Server 2025 (including Server Core): 10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.33822
Fixed in
Fixed in the November 2026 Patch Tuesday cumulative updates for the builds listed above. Exact KB numbers per build: check the MSRC Security Update Guide. Third-party trackers name KB5132061 (Windows 11 24H2) and KB5131090 (Windows Server 2022), but these were not confirmed against Microsoft.
Workaround
Unknown.
Exploitation
- Not known to be exploited in the wild.
- No public exploit code linked to this CVE.
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
- Not listed in the CISA KEV catalog according to a third-party tracker.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 Windows cumulative update on all affected systems, prioritizing multi-user systems such as terminal servers and shared file servers.
- Verify the exact build and KB on the MSRC Security Update Guide before rollout.
- Restrict local logon rights and limit administrative accounts to reduce the chance of an attacker gaining the required privileges.
- Treat this as a follow-up to the other flaws in the same Patch Tuesday, including an exploited Outlook spoofing flaw, which should be patched first.
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-2026-119965 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record: CVE-2026-119965 www.cve.org
- Senserva: KB5132061 senserva.com
- Senserva: KB5131090 senserva.com
- Rescana: Microsoft Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.rescana.com
- Strix: CVE-2026-119965 (third-party 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, 13:48.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Windows Kernel 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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