Microsoft Windows Graphics Kernel: Elevation of privilege via untrusted pointer dereference

Summary

A flaw in the Windows Graphics Kernel allows an attacker with a local, low-privilege account to elevate privileges on affected Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server systems. The issue is an untrusted pointer dereference (CWE-822), and successful exploitation could lead to full control of the system. Microsoft classifies the vulnerability as Important with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8; the attacker needs local code execution first.

Affected

• Windows 10 Version 1809, 21H2 and 22H2
• Windows 11 Version 23H2, 24H2, 25H2, 26H1 and 26H2
• Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core), 2022 and 2025 (including Server Core)
• Exact affected build ranges: see the Microsoft Security Update Guide (the official CVE record lists the ranges, but they are not all confirmed against MSRC).

Fixed in

• Windows 10 1809: 10.0.17763.9487 or later (per official CVE record)
• Windows 10 21H2: 10.0.19044.7846 or later (per official CVE record)
• Windows 10 22H2: 10.0.19045.7846 or later (per official CVE record)
• Windows 11 23H2: 10.0.22631.7711 or later (per official CVE record)
• Windows 11 24H2: 10.0.26100.9974 or later (per official CVE record)
• Windows 11 25H2 and 26H2: 10.0.26200.9974 and 10.0.26300.9974 or later (per official CVE record; not confirmed on MSRC)
• Windows 11 26H1: 10.0.28000.3501 or later (per official CVE record)
• Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.5870 or later (per official CVE record)
• Windows Server 2025: 10.0.26100.33822 or later (per official CVE record)
• Windows Server 2019: 10.0.17763.9487 or later (per official CVE record)
• Fix: the November 2026 security update from Microsoft. The exact KB number for this CVE is unconfirmed.

Workaround

Unknown. No vendor-published workaround was found. Patching is the expected remediation.

Exploitation

• No evidence of exploitation in the wild found at the time of analysis.
• Not listed in the CISA KEV alert reviewed; the catalog should be re-checked.
• CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
• No public proof of concept found.

Our recommendation

• Install the November 2026 Windows security update on all affected systems, prioritising multi-user systems such as RDS/terminal servers and shared workstations.
• Verify the fixed build numbers in the Microsoft Security Update Guide before rollout.
• Restrict local logon rights and limit untrusted users on servers.
• Monitor for new exploitation reports and KEV additions, and re-check NVD once the entry is analysed.

Public exploits iAttack code is publicly available (PoC on GitHub, Metasploit or Exploit-DB).

PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.

Research sources

• Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-95983 msrc.microsoft.com
• CVE Record CVE-2026-95983 www.cve.org
• Qualys Patch Tuesday November 2026 review blog.qualys.com
• CISA KEV alert (13 Oct 2026) www.cisa.gov

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, 02:53.