Windows Active Directory Domain Services: Command injection for privilege escalation
Summary
Improper neutralization of special elements used in a command ('command injection') in Windows Active Directory Domain Services allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over the network. According to the CVE record, the attacker needs a low-privileged domain account and user interaction is required (CVSS 8.0). The risk applies mainly to on-premises domain controllers on the affected Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server builds.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (builds 10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (builds 10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (builds 10.0.19044.0 before 10.0.19044.7846)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (builds 10.0.19045.0 before 10.0.19045.7846)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 (builds 10.0.22631.0 before 10.0.22631.7711)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 (builds 10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 (builds 10.0.26200.0 before 10.0.26200.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 26H1 (builds 10.0.28000.0 before 10.0.28000.3501)
- Windows 11 Version 26H2 (builds 10.0.26300.0 before 10.0.26300.9974)
- Windows Server 2016 incl. Server Core (builds 10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows Server 2019 incl. Server Core (builds 10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (builds 10.0.20348.0 before 10.0.20348.5870)
Fixed in
- Install the November 2026 security update from Microsoft for the affected Windows versions.
- Fixed builds according to the CVE record: 10.0.14393.9688, 10.0.17763.9487, 10.0.19044.7846, 10.0.19045.7846, 10.0.22631.7711, 10.0.26100.9974, 10.0.26200.9974, 10.0.28000.3501, 10.0.26300.9974, 10.0.20348.5870.
- Verify the build numbers in the MSRC advisory before rollout.
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor-published workaround was found in the sources. The security update is the documented remediation.
Exploitation
- Microsoft's exploitability assessment: Unknown.
- VulDB lists the status as confirmed, but reports no public exploit code.
- Senserva lists the CVE as not exploited (secondary source).
- No public proof of concept found for this CVE.
Our recommendation
- Apply the November 2026 security update to all domain controllers first, then to other affected Windows systems.
- Check the MSRC advisory for the final build numbers before rollout.
- Review domain user accounts and privileged groups, and remove unneeded accounts.
- Ensure domain controllers are not reachable from the internet.
- Monitor domain controller logs for unusual activity.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Active Directory
- 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 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE.org CVE Record www.cve.org
- VulDB entry vuldb.com
- Senserva knowledge base senserva.com
- Strix.ai CVE entry www.strix.ai
- Zero Day Initiative November 2026 review www.zerodayinitiative.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, 01:51.
Original description (NVD)
Improper neutralization of special elements used in a command ('command injection') in Windows Active Directory allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges 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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