Microsoft Windows Codecs Library: Information disclosure via uninitialized resource
Summary
The Microsoft Windows Codecs Library contains a flaw (CWE-908) in which a resource is used without prior initialization. An authorized local user with low privileges can read information from memory, but the impact is limited to information disclosure. The attack requires local access and a complex condition, so the risk is mainly on shared systems or hosts where untrusted users or malware already have a foothold.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016 (incl. Server Core): builds 10.0.14393.0 to below 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows 10 Version 1809 and Windows Server 2019 (incl. Server Core): builds 10.0.17763.0 to below 10.0.17763.9487
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 and 22H2: builds 10.0.19044.0 to below 10.0.19044.7846 and 10.0.19045.0 to below 10.0.19045.7846
- Windows 11 Version 23H2: builds 10.0.22631.0 to below 10.0.22631.7711
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 and 25H2: builds 10.0.26100.0 to below 10.0.26100.9974 and 10.0.26200.0 to below 10.0.26200.9974
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: builds 10.0.28000.0 to below 10.0.28000.3501
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: builds 10.0.26300.0 to below 10.0.26300.9974
- Windows Server 2022: builds 10.0.20348.0 to below 10.0.20348.5870
Fixed in
- Security update for the November 2026 Patch Tuesday release (Microsoft CNA record).
- Exact fixed builds per product are not verified in the sources reviewed; check the MSRC Security Update Guide for your build.
- KB article number: Unknown.
Workaround
Unknown. No documented workaround found; Microsoft points to the security update as the remedy.
Exploitation
- Exploited in the wild: no evidence found.
- Public proof of concept: none found.
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact partial.
- Rapid7 rates it 'Exploitation Less Likely'.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 security update on all affected Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server systems in the regular Patch Tuesday cycle.
- Patch shared systems, Remote Desktop/terminal servers and hosts with untrusted local users first.
- Verify the fixed build for each system on the MSRC page before rollout.
- Check whether Windows 10 1607 or 1809 devices have Extended Security Updates (ESU) coverage, otherwise they will not receive the fix.
- Review the related Windows Codecs Library remote code execution flaw CVE-2026-113749 in the same release, which is more relevant for SMEs.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Information disclosure – Microsoft Windows Codecs Library
- 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-2026-96150 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record: CVE-2026-96150 www.cve.org
- Rapid7: November 2026 Patch Tuesday review www.rapid7.com
- Qualys: Microsoft Patch Tuesday November 2026 review threatprotect.qualys.com
- Strix.ai: CVE-2026-96150 www.strix.ai
- GBHackers: Microsoft November 2026 Patch Tuesday gbhackers.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, 16:02.
Original description (NVD)
Use of uninitialized resource in Microsoft Windows Codecs Library allows an authorized attacker to disclose information 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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