Windows Performance Monitor: Remote code execution due to invalid pointer reference
Summary
Windows Performance Monitor in several Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server versions releases an invalid pointer or reference (CWE-763; CWE-122 is also listed). An unauthorized attacker on the network may be able to execute code. The CVSS 7.5 score from the CNA (Microsoft) is used because NVD analysis was still pending. Exploitation requires high attack complexity and user interaction.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016 (including Server Core): before 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows 10 Version 1809 and Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core): before 10.0.17763.9487
- 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
Fixed in
- November 2026 cumulative updates for the affected Windows versions (builds listed above or higher).
- Specific KB numbers per version are not verified; check the KB list on the MSRC advisory.
Workaround
Unknown.
Exploitation
- Not known to be exploited in the wild.
- No public proof-of-concept or exploit code found.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
Our recommendation
- Confirm affected builds and KB numbers on the MSRC advisory.
- Install the November 2026 cumulative update, starting with internet-facing and server systems.
- Identify Windows 10 1607/1809/21H2 and Server 2016/2019 hosts that are out of support; they will not receive this fix without Extended Security Updates.
- Monitor NVD and MSRC for changes in scoring, exploitation status or workarounds.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Remote code execution – Windows Performance Monitor
- 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-2026-96993 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-96993 www.cve.org
- Strix: CVE-2026-96993 www.strix.ai
- OffSeq Radar: CVE-2026-96993 radar.offseq.com
- Action1: Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.action1.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, 05:02.
Original description (NVD)
Release of invalid pointer or reference in Windows Performance Monitor allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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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