Microsoft Windows Message Queuing: Use-after-free allows remote code execution
Summary
A use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in the Windows Message Queuing Queue Manager allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over the network. No privileges or user interaction are required, but the attack complexity is high. Message Queuing is an optional Windows component, so exposure depends on whether it is installed and reachable.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (below 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (below 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (below 10.0.19044.7846)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (below 10.0.19045.7846)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 (below 10.0.22631.7711)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 (below 10.0.26100.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 (below 10.0.26200.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 26H1 (below 10.0.28000.3501)
- Windows 11 Version 26H2 (below 10.0.26300.9974)
- Windows Server 2016, including Server Core (below 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows Server 2019, including Server Core (below 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (below 10.0.20348.5870)
Fixed in
- Security update from the November 2026 Patch Tuesday release, with the fixed builds listed above.
Workaround
- Unknown.
- Removing the optional MSMQ feature where it is not used reduces exposure (general guidance, not confirmed by the vendor).
Exploitation
- Not known to be exploited in the wild.
- CISA SSVC assessment: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
- No public proof-of-concept found.
Our recommendation
- Inventory Windows hosts, including servers, for the Message Queuing feature.
- Remove MSMQ where it is not needed.
- Apply the November 2026 cumulative update to hosts where MSMQ is used, starting with systems reachable from untrusted networks.
- Re-check the affected product list once NVD and MSRC finalise it.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Critical
- Impact
- Remote code execution – Windows Message Queuing Queue Manager
- 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
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-119967 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2026-119967 www.cve.org
- ZDI November 2026 security update review thezdi.com
- Qualys Patch Tuesday November 2026 review blog.qualys.com
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, 01:36.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Windows Message Queuing Queue Manager allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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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