Windows Now Playing Session Manager: Use-after-free elevation of privilege
Summary
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Windows Now Playing Session Manager component allows an authorized local user with low privileges to elevate their privileges. Exploitation requires an existing local account or foothold on the system. The vulnerability is not reachable directly from the internet.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1809: 10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9376
- Windows 10 Version 21H2: 10.0.19044.0 to before 10.0.19044.7807
- Windows 10 Version 22H2: 10.0.19045.0 to before 10.0.19045.7807
- Windows 11 Version 23H2: 10.0.22631.0 to before 10.0.22631.7652
- Windows 11 Version 24H2: 10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.9711
- Windows 11 Version 25H2: 10.0.26200.0 to before 10.0.26200.9711
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: 10.0.28000.0 to before 10.0.28000.3231
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: 10.0.26300.0 to before 10.0.26300.9711
- Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core): 10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9376
- Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.0 to before 10.0.20348.5761
- Windows Server 2025 (including Server Core): 10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.33650
Fixed in
- Windows 10 Version 1809 and Windows Server 2019: 10.0.17763.9376 or later
- Windows 10 Version 21H2: 10.0.19044.7807 or later
- Windows 10 Version 22H2: 10.0.19045.7807 or later
- Windows 11 Version 24H2: 10.0.26100.9711 or later
- Windows Server 2025: 10.0.26100.33650 or later
- Other listed versions: see the Microsoft Security Update Guide for the exact fixed build
Workaround
Unknown. No documented workaround was found. A security update is available.
Exploitation
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- EPSS score of about 0.0036 at the time of the aggregator snapshots.
- No public proof of concept was found in the searches performed. This is not a confirmed absence.
Our recommendation
- Install the Microsoft security update that brings the system to the fixed build or later, through the normal monthly patch cycle. Prioritise multi-user systems, terminal servers and other servers.
- Verify the exact build numbers against the Microsoft Security Update Guide before rollout.
- Check the Windows edition and support status on the Microsoft lifecycle pages. If a system runs an edition that no longer receives fixes, no patch may be available and an upgrade is the only remedy.
- Monitor systems for unusual local privilege escalation activity.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday October 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Now Playing Session Manager
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation unlikely
- 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-2026-83700 msrc.microsoft.com
- OpenCVE: CVE-2026-83700 app.opencve.io
- Vulners CVE list record: CVE-2026-83700 vulners.com
- Vulners Microsoft record: CVE-2026-83700 vulners.com
- Vulners NVD record: CVE-2026-83700 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 2 Nov 2026, 03:18.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Windows Now Playing Session Manager 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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