Microsoft Windows: Use-after-free in Windows Audio Service enables privilege escalation
Summary
The Windows Audio Service contains a use-after-free flaw (CWE-416) that allows a local attacker with low privileges to elevate privileges. Exploitation requires high complexity conditions and a valid local account on an affected host. Exploitation is not known at this time, and NVD analysis is still pending.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (before 10.0.19044.7846)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (before 10.0.19045.7846, per aggregator; CVE record truncated in research)
- 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 2016 (before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows Server 2019 (before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (before 10.0.20348.5870)
Fixed in
- Fixed builds as listed above, according to the CVE record and aggregator data.
- Windows Server 2025 (before 10.0.26100.33822) according to the aggregator only, not confirmed.
- The cumulative update that contains the fix is unconfirmed. Verify all build numbers against MSRC.
Workaround
Unknown.
- No vendor or third-party workaround found. The security update is the documented remediation.
Exploitation
- Not known to be exploited in the wild. Not listed in CISA KEV at the time of research.
- No public proof-of-concept exploit found.
Our recommendation
- Check the MSRC advisory for official fixed builds and mitigations.
- Inventory Windows hosts, especially Windows 10 1607 and 1809 systems, and check whether they still receive updates.
- Install the Microsoft security update on affected workstations and servers, starting with terminal servers and user workstations.
- Review local accounts and privileges, and monitor for signs of privilege escalation.
- Re-check NVD and CISA KEV in a few days, as the CVE is new.
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)
- 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-2026-96155 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-96155 (CVE.org) www.cve.org
- Strix: CVE-2026-96155 (aggregator) www.strix.ai
- OffSeq Radar: CVE-2026-96155 exploitation status radar.offseq.com
- Vulners: PT-2026-112321 (related Windows Audio Service UAF) vulners.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, 07:36.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free 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.
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