Windows NTFS: Elevation of privilege
Summary
A local flaw in the Windows NTFS file system driver allows an attacker with a valid local account to elevate privileges. The cause is improper access control (CWE-863). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8 (High), with high impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability. The attack requires local logon and cannot be carried out remotely over the network.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9612)
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9376)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (10.0.19044.0 to before 10.0.19044.7807)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (10.0.19045.0 to before 10.0.19045.7807)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 (10.0.22631.0 to before 10.0.22631.7652)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 (10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.9711)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 (10.0.26200.0 to before 10.0.26200.9711)
- Windows 11 Version 26H1 (10.0.28000.0 to before 10.0.28000.3231)
- Windows 11 Version 26H2 (10.0.26300.0 to before 10.0.26300.9711)
- Windows Server 2016 incl. Server Core (10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9612)
- Windows Server 2019 incl. Server Core (10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9376)
- Windows Server 2022 (10.0.20348.0 to before 10.0.20348.5761)
Fixed in
- Fixed builds per CNA data: 10.0.14393.9612 (1607, Server 2016), 10.0.17763.9376 (1809, Server 2019), 10.0.19044.7807 (21H2), 10.0.19045.7807 (22H2), 10.0.22631.7652 (23H2), 10.0.26100.9711 (24H2), 10.0.26200.9711 (25H2), 10.0.28000.3231 (26H1), 10.0.26300.9711 (26H2), 10.0.20348.5761 (Server 2022)
- KB numbers: Unknown. Take them from the MSRC Security Update Guide.
Workaround
Unknown. No documented workaround or mitigation was found; patching is the only confirmed fix.
Exploitation
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, not automatable, technical impact partial
- EPSS score 0.00284 at the time of the Vulnrichment snapshot
- No public proof-of-concept or in-the-wild exploitation was found at the time of research
- Unknown: whether public exploit code appears later
Our recommendation
- Patch Windows 10 1607/1809/21H2/22H2, Windows 11 and Windows Server systems to the fixed builds listed above, prioritising multi-user servers, RDP hosts and systems with many local logons
- Check whether Windows 10 1607 still receives security updates (end of support around October 2026, or ESU); if not, plan an upgrade
- Reduce local accounts and restrict local logon to trusted users
- Monitor for unusual privilege changes and new local administrator accounts
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday October 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows NTFS
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5126868, KB5126651, KB5126657, KB5126655, KB5126653, KB5127648
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-96918 msrc.microsoft.com
- Vulners CVE list entry: CVE-2026-96918 vulners.com
- OpenCVE: CVE-2026-96918 app.opencve.io
- Vulners Vulnrichment: CVE-2026-96918 (SSVC, EPSS) vulners.com
- Zero Day Initiative: October 2026 Security Update Review www.zerodayinitiative.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 2 Nov 2026, 00:42.
Original description (NVD)
Improper access control in Windows NTFS 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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