Windows: Use-after-free in Graphics Kernel enables local privilege escalation
Summary
A use-after-free flaw in the Windows Graphics Kernel allows an authorized attacker with a local, low-privileged logon to elevate privileges to a higher level. Exploitation requires high attack complexity and no user interaction. The risk is mainly relevant on multi-user systems, terminal servers and hosts where an attacker already has a foothold.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016 (including Server Core): before 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows 10 Version 1809 and Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core): before 10.0.17763.9487
- Windows 10 Version 21H2: before 10.0.19044.7846
- Windows 10 Version 22H2: before 10.0.19045.7846
- Windows 11 Version 23H2: before 10.0.22631.7711
- Windows 11 Version 24H2: before 10.0.26100.9974
- Windows 11 Version 25H2: before 10.0.26200.9974
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: before 10.0.28000.3501
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: before 10.0.26300.9974
- Windows Server 2022: before 10.0.20348.5870
Fixed in
Security updates from Microsoft's November 2026 release for the builds listed above. Verify the exact update per product on the MSRC Update Guide before rollout.
Workaround
Unknown.
Exploitation
- No evidence of in-the-wild exploitation or a public proof of concept was found at the time of research.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, not automatable, technical impact total.
- CISA KEV status: not confirmed.
Our recommendation
- Apply the November 2026 cumulative update to Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server hosts in the normal patch cycle, starting with multi-user systems and RDS or terminal servers.
- Check the MSRC Update Guide for the exact fixed build per product before patching.
- Restrict local logons to necessary accounts and review privileged access on shared systems.
- Monitor CISA KEV and vendor advisories for news of exploitation.
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)
- 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.org CVE Record CVE-2026-96124 www.cve.org
- Microsoft Security Update Guide CVE-2026-96124 msrc.microsoft.com
- Strix CVE-2026-96124 (third-party mirror, verify) 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, 07:37.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free 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.
Affected? We can help.
We check whether your systems are affected, install updates and close the gap – continuously with the System Health Checker if you wish.