Windows Diagnostic Policy Service: Double free allows local privilege escalation
Summary
A double free vulnerability (CWE-415) in the Windows Diagnostic Policy Service allows a local attacker with low privileges to elevate privileges. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8 (High), with high impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability. An attacker needs an existing user account or a foothold on the affected system, so the risk is mainly a second step after phishing, a malicious application or a compromised session.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (10.0.19044.0 to before 10.0.19044.7846)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (10.0.19045.0 to before 10.0.19045.7846)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 (10.0.22631.0 to before 10.0.22631.7711)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 (10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 (10.0.26200.0 to before 10.0.26200.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 26H1 (10.0.28000.0 to before 10.0.28000.3501)
- Windows 11 Version 26H2 (10.0.26300.0 to before 10.0.26300.9974)
- Windows Server 2019 and Server Core installation (10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (10.0.20348.0 to before 10.0.20348.5870)
- Windows Server 2025 and Server Core installation (10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.33822)
Fixed in
- Windows 10 Version 1809 and Windows Server 2019: 10.0.17763.9487
- Windows 10 Version 21H2: 10.0.19044.7846
- Windows 10 Version 22H2: 10.0.19045.7846
- Windows 11 Version 23H2: 10.0.22631.7711
- Windows 11 Version 24H2: 10.0.26100.9974
- Windows 11 Version 25H2: 10.0.26200.9974
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: 10.0.28000.3501
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: 10.0.26300.9974
- Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.5870
- Windows Server 2025: 10.0.26100.33822
Source: CVE record of the CNA Microsoft. Verify the list against the MSRC Security Update Guide before rollout.
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor workaround is known. Installing the security update is the primary fix.
Exploitation
- Not known to be exploited in the wild.
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
- CVSS temporal metrics: exploit code maturity Unproven (E:U).
- No public proof of concept was found in the research.
Our recommendation
- Inventory all Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server systems and compare their build numbers with the fixed builds.
- Install the November 2026 cumulative update on all affected systems, starting with multi-user systems, terminal servers and administrator workstations.
- Check the MSRC Security Update Guide for the authoritative affected and fixed list.
- Monitor endpoints for unusual privilege changes and new local processes running as SYSTEM.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Diagnostic Policy 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)
- KB5131085, KB5131096, KB5131090, KB5131087, KB5132061, KB5132043
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- MSRC Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-95934 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-95934 (CVE.org) www.cve.org
- Senserva KB5131096 (third-party, unverified mapping) 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, 02:58.
Original description (NVD)
Double free in Windows Diagnostic Policy 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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