Windows: Use-after-free in Windows Audio Service enables local privilege escalation
Summary
A use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in the Windows Audio Service allows an authorized local attacker to elevate privileges. The attacker needs a local account with low privileges, and no user interaction is required. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.0 (High), and CISA SSVC lists exploitation as none.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9612)
- Windows 10 Version 1809, 21H2, 22H2
- Windows 11 Version 23H2, 24H2, 25H2, 26H1, 26H2
- Windows Server 2016 (including Server Core), 2019 (including Server Core), 2022
Fixed in
- Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016: 10.0.14393.9612
- Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10 Version 1809: 10.0.17763.9376
- Other listed versions: see the Microsoft Security Update Guide
Workaround
Unknown.
Exploitation
- No known exploitation in the wild (CISA SSVC: Exploitation none)
- Not listed in CISA KEV
- No public proof-of-concept exploit found
Our recommendation
- Inventory all Windows 10 1607 and Windows Server 2016 hosts and other affected Windows versions
- Apply the October 2026 security update and confirm the build number against the Microsoft Security Update Guide
- Replace or isolate systems that no longer receive security updates
- Restrict local logon rights and review local administrator accounts on shared or multi-user systems
- Priority: medium for patched systems, high for unsupported systems
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday October 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Audio Service
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5126651, KB5126655, KB5126657, KB5126646, KB5127648, KB5126653
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-83644 msrc.microsoft.com
- NVD mirror on Vulners: CVE-2026-83644 vulners.com
- OpenCVE: CVE-2026-83644 app.opencve.io
- Microsoft MSRC mirror on Vulners: MS:CVE-2026-83644 vulners.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 4 Nov 2026, 08:41.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Windows Audio Service 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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