Microsoft Windows: Elevation of privilege in Windows Audio Service
Summary
A locally authorized user of Microsoft Windows can exploit a flaw in the Windows Audio Service to gain higher privileges. The weakness involves inclusion of functionality from an untrusted control sphere (CWE-829). Successful exploitation requires a valid low-privilege local account, and an attacker could then affect confidentiality, integrity and availability. No exploitation or public proof-of-concept is known.
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 including 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)
- Windows Server 2025 including Server Core (10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.33822)
Fixed in
- Apply the Microsoft security update for the affected build (fixed builds as listed in the CVE record: 10.0.17763.9487, 10.0.19044.7846, 10.0.19045.7846, 10.0.22631.7711, 10.0.26100.9974, 10.0.26200.9974, 10.0.28000.3501, 10.0.26300.9974, 10.0.20348.5870, 10.0.26100.33822)
- Verify the fixed builds and KB numbers on the MSRC advisory before rollout
Workaround
Unknown.
Exploitation
- Exploited in the wild: Not known.
- Public proof-of-concept: Not known.
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, not automatable, total technical impact.
Our recommendation
- Patch affected Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server systems to the fixed builds, starting with multi-user workstations and terminal servers.
- For Windows 10 systems, check whether they receive Extended Security Updates.
- Review local accounts and restrict unnecessary local logon rights.
- Monitor for CISA KEV listing or public proof-of-concept reports and re-check NVD once analysis is complete.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Audio 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-2026-96038 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-96038 www.cve.org
- HKCERT security bulletin: Windows Audio Service elevation of privilege www.hkcert.org
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, 02:46.
Original description (NVD)
Inclusion of functionality from untrusted control sphere in Windows Audio 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.
Affected? We can help.
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