Windows Graphics Kernel: Elevation of privilege through untrusted control sphere
Summary
A flaw in the Windows Graphics Kernel allows an authorized local user to elevate privileges. The CWE is CWE-829 (inclusion of functionality from an untrusted control sphere). The attacker needs local access and low privileges, but no user interaction, and could gain SYSTEM rights. This is not internet-facing, but it matters once an attacker already has a foothold on a system.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (10.0.19044.0 before 10.0.19044.7846)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (10.0.19045.0 before 10.0.19045.7846)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 (10.0.22631.0 before 10.0.22631.7711)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 (10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 (10.0.26200.0 before 10.0.26200.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 26H2 (10.0.26300.0 before 10.0.26300.9974)
- Windows Server 2016, incl. Server Core (10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows Server 2019, incl. Server Core (10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (10.0.20348.0 before 10.0.20348.5870)
- Windows Server 2025 (10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.33822)
Fixed in
- Fixed builds: see the affected list above (first build not affected).
- Windows 10 1607 and Server 2016: KB5131291 (November 2026 cumulative update)
- Windows 10 1809 and Server 2019: KB5131085 (November 2026 cumulative update)
- Windows 10 21H2: KB5131096 (November 2026 cumulative update)
- Other versions: Unknown KB number; use the November 2026 cumulative update and confirm on the MSRC page.
Workaround
Unknown. No Microsoft-documented workaround was found. Patching is the only confirmed fix.
Exploitation
- No evidence of exploitation in the wild found at the time of writing.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, not automatable, total technical impact.
- The CNA CVSS vector contains E:U (exploit code maturity unproven).
- No public proof of concept found.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 cumulative update on all affected Windows clients and servers, prioritizing multi-user terminal servers, shared workstations and systems where untrusted code runs.
- Check the support status of Windows 10 1607 and 1809 in your environment.
- Verify the KB numbers and affected versions on the MSRC page.
- Monitor the MSRC page and CISA KEV for changes in exploitation status.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Graphics Kernel
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates), Microsoft Office
- Updates (KB)
- KB5131291, KB5131085, KB5131096, KB5131090, KB5131087, KB5132061
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- CVE Record (CNA: Microsoft) www.cve.org
- Microsoft Security Update Guide msrc.microsoft.com
- Action1: Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.action1.com
- Senserva: KB5131096 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, 03:02.
Original description (NVD)
Inclusion of functionality from untrusted control sphere in Windows Graphics Kernel 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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