Windows: Elevation of privilege in Clipboard Virtual Channel Extension
Summary
Microsoft Windows contains an incorrect authorization flaw (CWE-863) in the Windows Clipboard Virtual Channel Extension. A local user who is already authorized, for example with a low-privileged account, can exploit it to elevate privileges on the system. The CVSS base score is 7.8 (High), and the attack requires local access.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (10.0.19044.0 before 10.0.19044.7846)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (10.0.19045.0 before 10.0.19045.7846)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 (10.0.22631.0 before 10.0.22631.7711)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 (10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 (10.0.26200.0 before 10.0.26200.9974)
- Windows 11 Version 26H1 (10.0.28000.0 before 10.0.28000.3501)
- Windows 11 Version 26H2 (10.0.26300.0 before 10.0.26300.9974)
- Windows Server 2016, including Server Core (10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows Server 2019, including Server Core (10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (10.0.20348.0 before 10.0.20348.5870)
Fixed in
- Install the Windows security update for CVE-2026-96162 so that the build number is at or above the fixed version listed above.
- Cumulative update (KB) numbers: Unknown. Check the MSRC Security Update Guide.
Workaround
- Unknown. No vendor workaround is confirmed in the sources reviewed.
Exploitation
- No evidence of exploitation in the wild as of 10 November 2026 (OffSeq).
- No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB as of the same date (OffSeq; this check is limited to these indexes).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, not automatable, total technical impact.
Our recommendation
- Patch affected Windows systems in the next regular update cycle, and prioritise multi-user servers, terminal servers and systems running unsupported or older builds.
- Check the MSRC Security Update Guide for the KB numbers before rollout.
- Limit interactive logons and remote-session clipboard use where it is not needed, and monitor endpoints for signs of privilege escalation.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows Clipboard Virtual Channel Extension
- 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 record (CVE Program) www.cve.org
- Microsoft Security Update Guide (MSRC) msrc.microsoft.com
- OffSeq Radar: exploitation status radar.offseq.com
- Strix: affected-version cross-check (not verified against MSRC) 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, 02:31.
Original description (NVD)
Incorrect authorization in Windows Clipboard Virtual Channel Extension 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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