Windows: NULL pointer dereference in USM Communication Manager
Summary
A NULL pointer dereference in the Windows USM Communication Manager component allows an authorized local attacker to elevate privileges. The attacker needs existing local access with low privileges, and the attack complexity is rated high. No network exposure is involved. The CVE record lists Windows 10 21H2 and 22H2 as affected.
Affected
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 21H2: builds 10.0.19044.0 before 10.0.19044.7846
- Microsoft Windows 10 Version 22H2: builds 10.0.19045.0 before 10.0.19045.7846
- Windows 11 and Windows Server: not listed in the sources reviewed; check the MSRC Security Update Guide
Fixed in
- Windows 10 Version 21H2: build 10.0.19044.7846 or later
- Windows 10 Version 22H2: build 10.0.19045.7846 or later
Workaround
Unknown.
Exploitation
- Not known to be exploited in the wild.
- Not listed in CISA KEV according to a third-party tracker.
- Microsoft rates exploit maturity as unproven (E:U).
- No public proof of concept found; this search was not exhaustive.
Our recommendation
- Install the cumulative update with build 10.0.19044.7846 or 10.0.19045.7846 within your normal patch cycle.
- Prioritise machines with several local users, shared workstations and terminal servers.
- Inventory your Windows 10 systems and confirm their support status, including whether ESU coverage applies.
- Verify the affected product list against the MSRC advisory, as NVD analysis is still pending.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Elevation of privilege – Windows USM Communication Manager
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5131096
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-97000 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record: CVE-2026-97000 www.cve.org
- OffSeq Radar: CVE-2026-97000 radar.offseq.com
- Strix: CVE-2026-97000 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, 07:31.
Original description (NVD)
Null pointer dereference in Windows USM Communication Manager 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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