Windows Error Reporting: Elevation of privilege in file handling
Summary
A local elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows Error Reporting (WER), the built-in Windows crash reporting component, when it handles and executes files. An attacker with local access and low privileges who runs a specially crafted application could gain greater access to sensitive information and system functions. The CVSS score is 7.0 (High) with high attack complexity, and no exploitation is known; CISA SSVC rates it as not automatable.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1809 and Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core): builds below 10.0.17763.9487
- Windows 10 Version 21H2: builds below 10.0.19044.7846
- Windows 10 Version 22H2: builds below 10.0.19045.7846
- Windows 11 Version 23H2: builds below 10.0.22631.7711
- Windows 11 Version 24H2: builds below 10.0.26100.9974
- Windows 11 Version 25H2: builds below 10.0.26200.9974
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: builds below 10.0.28000.3501
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: builds below 10.0.26300.9974
- Windows Server 2022: builds below 10.0.20348.5870
- Windows Server 2025 (including Server Core): builds below 10.0.26100.33822
Fixed in
- Install the Windows security update released with the November 2026 Patch Tuesday (published 10 Nov 2026) or a later cumulative update, which provides the fixed builds listed above or higher.
Workaround
Unknown.
Exploitation
- No exploitation is known at the time of analysis.
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 Windows security update on all affected systems, starting with servers and multi-user systems.
- Check exposure by inventorying Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server systems and verifying their build numbers.
- Limit local code execution and local accounts, and monitor for unusual WER activity until all systems are patched.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Error Reporting
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5131085, KB5131096, KB5131090, KB5131087, KB5132061, KB5132043
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-94525 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-94525 www.cve.org
- CVE List V5 release cve_2026-11-11_0400Z github.com
- Strix CVE-2026-94525 (secondary aggregator) www.strix.ai
- Rapid7 Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.rapid7.com
- Senserva KB 5131090 senserva.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, 08:06.
Original description (NVD)
An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Windows Error Reporting (WER) when WER handles and executes files. The vulnerability could allow elevation of privilege if an attacker can successfully exploit it. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could gain greater access to sensitive information and system functionality. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker could run a specially crafted application. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the way that WER handles and executes files.
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.
Affected? We can help.
We check whether your systems are affected, install updates and close the gap – continuously with the System Health Checker if you wish.