Windows Sensor Data Service: Heap-based buffer overflow allows privilege escalation
Summary
A heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Sensor Data Service allows an authorized local attacker to elevate privileges. The attacker needs an existing low-privileged account or code execution on the affected host. The CVSS score is 7.8 (High), with high impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (builds before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (builds before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (builds before 10.0.19044.7846)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (builds before 10.0.19045.7846)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 (builds before 10.0.22631.7711)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 (builds before 10.0.26100.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 (builds before 10.0.26200.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 26H1 (builds before 10.0.28000.3501)
- Windows 11 Version 26H2 (builds before 10.0.26300.9974)
- Windows Server 2016 incl. Server Core (builds before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows Server 2019 incl. Server Core (builds before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (builds before 10.0.20348.5870)
Fixed in
- Fixed builds according to the CNA 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 these builds and the KB numbers in the MSRC Security Update Guide before rollout. Unknown: KB numbers for this CVE.
Workaround
No vendor workaround known. Installing the security update is the fix.
Exploitation
- No exploitation in the wild known.
- No public exploit code found.
- CISA SSVC assessment: Exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
Our recommendation
- Inventory Windows hosts by build and identify systems that are out of support (especially Windows 10 1607, 1809 and 21H2).
- Patch affected endpoints and servers in the next regular cycle, prioritising hosts with privileged or shared users.
- Re-check CISA KEV and public exploit sources in the coming weeks, as the status may change.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Sensor Data 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)
- 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-2026-88241 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2026-88241 www.cve.org
- Strix CVE-2026-88241 (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, 03:15.
Original description (NVD)
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Sensor Data 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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