Windows PCI Bus Driver: Use-after-free leads to privilege escalation
Summary
The Windows PCI Bus Driver contains a use-after-free flaw (CWE-416) that allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges. The attack requires physical access to the system and has high attack complexity, so it is not exploitable remotely over the internet. A successful attack could compromise confidentiality, integrity and availability at system level. No public proof-of-concept or active exploitation is known at the time of writing.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (before 10.0.19044.7846)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (before 10.0.19045.7846)
- 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 2022 (before 10.0.20348.5870)
- Windows Server 2025 and Server Core installation (before 10.0.26100.33822)
- Build ranges taken from the CVE.org record; some third-party sites differ and are unverified against MSRC.
Fixed in
- Install the November 2026 cumulative update that brings each system to the fixed build listed above.
- KB article numbers: Unknown.
Workaround
- No vendor-documented interim mitigation found. Install the patch.
- Physical access controls, enforced disk encryption and screen locks reduce the practical risk.
Exploitation
- In the wild: no evidence of exploitation found.
- Public proof-of-concept: none found.
- CVSS exploit maturity is unproven (E:U). Automatable: no (CISA SSVC).
- Status may change quickly after patch diffing; re-check.
Our recommendation
- Install the November 2026 cumulative update through the normal patch cycle, prioritising laptops and shared or public-facing endpoints.
- Verify the fixed build numbers against the MSRC advisory before rollout.
- Enforce full disk encryption and automatic screen locks on all endpoints.
- Restrict physical access to workstations, shared offices and kiosks.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows PCI Bus Driver
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation unlikely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5131096, KB5131090, KB5131087, KB5132061, KB5132043, KB5131080
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Response Center: CVE-2026-96992 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE.org CVE Record: CVE-2026-96992 www.cve.org
- Strix: CVE-2026-96992 (build list, unverified) www.strix.ai
- OffSeq Radar: CVE-2026-96992 (exploitation status) radar.offseq.com
- IMFHT: CVE-2026-96992 (conflicting severity and vector, for reference) cve.imfht.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, 13:46.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Windows PCI Bus Driver allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges with a physical attack.
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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