Microsoft Windows Graphics Kernel: Elevation of privilege through use after free

Summary

A use-after-free flaw in the Windows Graphics Kernel allows an authorized local attacker to elevate privileges. The attacker needs a valid local account or an existing foothold on the system, and exploitation is considered complex (high attack complexity). The CVSS vector rates confidentiality, integrity and availability impact as high. The main risk is on multi-user systems such as terminal servers and shared workstations.

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 (listed in the CVE record as affected)
• 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

• Fixed builds as listed in the CVE record: 10.0.14393.9688, 10.0.17763.9487, 10.0.19044.7846, 10.0.22631.7711, 10.0.26100.9974, 10.0.26200.9974, 10.0.28000.3501, 10.0.26300.9974, 10.0.20348.5870
• Install the Microsoft cumulative update that matches each system's build.
• Confirm the fixed build for each edition in the MSRC Security Update Guide, because secondary sources differ for some editions.

Workaround

Unknown.

• No mitigation for this CVE is documented in the sources.

Exploitation

• Not confirmed as exploited in the wild for this CVE.
• No public proof of concept found.
• Not checked against the CISA KEV catalog.
• CVSS exploit maturity is set to Unproven (E:U) by the CNA.
• CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.

Our recommendation

• Inventory all Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server systems and compare their builds with the fixed builds above.
• Install the matching cumulative update on all affected systems, starting with terminal servers, shared PCs and systems with many local accounts.
• Check the MSRC advisory for this CVE for any Graphics Kernel-specific guidance.
• Review local accounts and privileges, and treat any system already compromised by phishing or credential theft as urgent.
• Monitor for unexpected privilege escalation and SYSTEM-level processes started by standard users.

Public exploits iAttack code is publicly available (PoC on GitHub, Metasploit or Exploit-DB).

PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.

Research sources

• Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-96171 msrc.microsoft.com
• CVE Record: CVE-2026-96171 www.cve.org
• OffSeq Radar: CVE-2026-96171 radar.offseq.com
• Strix: CVE-2026-96171 www.strix.ai
• Rapid7: Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.rapid7.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, 07:34.