Microsoft Windows: Information disclosure in Kernel Transaction Manager
Summary
An uninitialized resource in the Windows Kernel Transaction Manager allows an authorized local attacker to read information from kernel memory. The attacker needs a valid local account and the attack is not possible remotely. Only confidentiality is affected, and the flaw is classed as Medium by CVSS (5.5).
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016 (including Server Core): builds before 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows 10 Version 1809 and Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core): 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: fixed build unconfirmed (sources give 10.0.26100.33822 or 10.0.26100.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 and 26H2: builds before 10.0.26200.9974 and 10.0.26300.9974
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: builds before 10.0.28000.3501
- Windows Server 2022: builds before 10.0.20348.5870
- Sources disagree on the complete list of affected versions; verify against MSRC.
Fixed in
- Install the November 2026 security updates for the affected builds listed above.
- Fixed builds per the CVE record are listed under Affected.
- For Windows 11 Version 24H2 the fixed build is not confirmed; check the MSRC entry.
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor-documented workaround was found. Install the patch.
Exploitation
- Microsoft has not marked the vulnerability as exploited.
- CISA SSVC lists exploitation as none and automatable as no.
- No public proof of concept or in-the-wild use is known.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 cumulative updates on all affected Windows 10, 11 and Server systems, prioritising multi-user systems, terminal servers and file servers.
- Confirm the fixed build for each version on the MSRC page, as sources currently disagree.
- Check the support lifecycle for Windows 10 1607 and 1809, which are out of mainstream support.
- Restrict local logon to trusted accounts on shared systems.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Information disclosure – Kernel Transaction Manager
- 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-2026-94517 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-94517 www.cve.org
- Strix: CVE-2026-94517 www.strix.ai
- Senserva KB 5131096 (secondary, verify against MSRC) senserva.com
- BleepingComputer: Microsoft November 2026 Patch Tuesday www.bleepingcomputer.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, 16:36.
Original description (NVD)
Use of uninitialized resource in Kernel Transaction Manager allows an authorized attacker to disclose information 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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