Microsoft Windows Graphics Kernel: Out-of-bounds read allows local privilege escalation
Summary
An out-of-bounds read in the Windows Graphics Kernel allows a locally authorized user to elevate privileges. The attack needs only low privileges and no user interaction, and the CVSS base score is 7.8 (high). The CVE is not yet analysed by NVD, and Microsoft's CNA record lists the affected builds listed below.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9688)
- 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 2016 incl. Server Core (10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows Server 2019 incl. Server Core (10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (10.0.20348.0 to before 10.0.20348.5870)
Fixed in
- Fixed in the builds from the vendor record: 10.0.14393.9688 (Windows 10 1607, Server 2016), 10.0.17763.9487 (Windows 10 1809, Server 2019), 10.0.19044.7846 (Windows 10 21H2), 10.0.19045.7846 (Windows 10 22H2), 10.0.22631.7711 (Windows 11 23H2), 10.0.26100.9974 (Windows 11 24H2), 10.0.26200.9974 (Windows 11 25H2), 10.0.28000.3501 (Windows 11 26H1), 10.0.26300.9974 (Windows 11 26H2), 10.0.20348.5870 (Windows Server 2022)
- Confirm the fixed build for each system on the MSRC advisory, as the build numbers were not verified there.
Workaround
Unknown.
Exploitation
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, not automatable, total technical impact.
- Exploit maturity is recorded as unproven; no in-the-wild exploitation or public proof of concept was found at the time of research.
Our recommendation
- Identify all Windows systems and their exact builds, especially Windows 10 and older Server versions.
- Apply the vendor's November 2026 security updates to affected systems after testing, and confirm on MSRC that they include this CVE.
- Restrict local logon and Remote Desktop access to trusted users, especially on shared and terminal servers.
- Monitor for unexpected local privilege changes and recheck exploitation status and NVD analysis in a few days.
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
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-95942 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2026-95942 www.cve.org
- Strix CVE summary CVE-2026-95942 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, 03:01.
Original description (NVD)
Out-of-bounds read 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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