Windows 11: Local privilege escalation via use-after-free in Windows Autopilot
Summary
A use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in Windows Autopilot allows an attacker with a local account to elevate privileges. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.0 (High), with high attack complexity and low privileges required. The attack requires an existing local foothold, so the risk is mainly post-compromise or insider misuse rather than internet exposure.
Affected
- Microsoft Windows 11 version 26H1, builds 10.0.28000.0 before 10.0.28000.3501 (per the CVE record)
Fixed in
- Windows 11 version 26H1, build 10.0.28000.3501 or later
- KB number: Unknown. Please confirm on the MSRC page.
Workaround
Unknown.
Exploitation
- Microsoft temporal metrics: Exploited: No
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total
- Not listed in KEV according to Strix (CISA KEV not checked directly)
- No public proof of concept found; the CVE was published on 10 Nov 2026 and is still being analysed
- NVD analysis pending
Our recommendation
- Identify devices running Windows 11 version 26H1 and check their build number.
- Install the November 2026 security update on all affected 26H1 devices, prioritising shared and kiosk devices.
- Check the MSRC page for the complete list of affected products and the KB number.
- For Windows 11 24H2/25H2 and other versions, no specific action beyond regular patching is required based on current information.
- Monitor for updated NVD scoring and exploitation reports.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Autopilot
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation more likely
- Product family
- Windows
- Updates (KB)
- KB5132059
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- MSRC advisory CVE-2026-122175 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE record CVE-2026-122175 www.cve.org
- Qualys November 2026 Patch Tuesday review blog.qualys.com
- Strix CVE-2026-122175 (secondary 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, 08:21.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Windows Autopilot 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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