---
id: "CVE-2026-112981"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-112981"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-112981"]
title: "Windows Print Spooler: heap overflow lets a local user gain higher privileges"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.8
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Windows 10 1607 / Server 2016", "fixed": ["10.0.14393.9688"], "affected": ">= 10.0.14393.0, < 10.0.14393.9688", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 10 1809 / Server 2019", "fixed": ["10.0.17763.9487"], "affected": ">= 10.0.17763.0, < 10.0.17763.9487", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 10 21H2", "fixed": ["10.0.19044.7846"], "affected": ">= 10.0.19044.0, < 10.0.19044.7846", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 10 22H2", "fixed": ["10.0.19045.7846"], "affected": ">= 10.0.19045.0, < 10.0.19045.7846", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 23H2", "fixed": ["10.0.22631.7711"], "affected": ">= 10.0.22631.0, < 10.0.22631.7711", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 24H2", "fixed": ["10.0.26100.9974"], "affected": ">= 10.0.26100.0, < 10.0.26100.9974", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 25H2", "fixed": ["10.0.26200.9974"], "affected": ">= 10.0.26200.0, < 10.0.26200.9974", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 26H1", "fixed": ["10.0.28000.3501"], "affected": ">= 10.0.28000.0, < 10.0.28000.3501", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 26H2", "fixed": ["10.0.26300.9974"], "affected": ">= 10.0.26300.0, < 10.0.26300.9974", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2022", "fixed": ["10.0.20348.5870"], "affected": ">= 10.0.20348.0, < 10.0.20348.5870", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2025", "fixed": ["10.0.26100.33822"], "affected": ">= 10.0.26100.0, < 10.0.26100.33822", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: []
tags: ["infrastructure", "local-privilege-escalation", "multi-user-hosts", "print-spooler", "windows", "windows-server"]
not_affected_if: ["no-local-accounts", "print-spooler-disabled", "single-user-machines"]
published_at: "2026-11-10T19:18:50+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-10T19:24:36+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-11T00:00:58+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-112981", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:24:36+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/cve-2026-112981", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-11T00:00:58+00:00", "cites": ["https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/cve-2026-112981"]}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Windows Print Spooler: heap overflow lets a local user gain higher privileges

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-112981 (this .md is for agents)

A heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Print Spooler components lets an authorized user raise their privileges on the same machine. The attacker needs a local account first and cannot use this flaw from the network alone.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Windows 10 1607 / Server 2016 affected >= 10.0.14393.0, < 10.0.14393.9688 fixed 10.0.14393.9688
- vendor:Windows 10 1809 / Server 2019 affected >= 10.0.17763.0, < 10.0.17763.9487 fixed 10.0.17763.9487
- vendor:Windows 10 21H2 affected >= 10.0.19044.0, < 10.0.19044.7846 fixed 10.0.19044.7846
- vendor:Windows 10 22H2 affected >= 10.0.19045.0, < 10.0.19045.7846 fixed 10.0.19045.7846
- vendor:Windows 11 23H2 affected >= 10.0.22631.0, < 10.0.22631.7711 fixed 10.0.22631.7711
- vendor:Windows 11 24H2 affected >= 10.0.26100.0, < 10.0.26100.9974 fixed 10.0.26100.9974
- vendor:Windows 11 25H2 affected >= 10.0.26200.0, < 10.0.26200.9974 fixed 10.0.26200.9974
- vendor:Windows 11 26H1 affected >= 10.0.28000.0, < 10.0.28000.3501 fixed 10.0.28000.3501
- vendor:Windows 11 26H2 affected >= 10.0.26300.0, < 10.0.26300.9974 fixed 10.0.26300.9974
- vendor:Windows Server 2022 affected >= 10.0.20348.0, < 10.0.20348.5870 fixed 10.0.20348.5870
- vendor:Windows Server 2025 affected >= 10.0.26100.0, < 10.0.26100.33822 fixed 10.0.26100.33822

## How to check

Run winver or [Environment]::OSVersion / (Get-ItemProperty 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion').CurrentBuildNumber and UBR; exposed if the full build is below the fixed build for your Windows version. Get-Service Spooler shows whether the Print Spooler runs; Microsoft's listing does not say a stopped spooler removes the risk, so patch anyway.

## Fix

Install the November 2026 Windows cumulative update: Win10 1607/Server 2016 >= 10.0.14393.9688; Win10 1809/Server 2019 >= 10.0.17763.9487; Win10 21H2 >= 10.0.19044.7846; Win10 22H2 >= 10.0.19045.7846; Win11 23H2 >= 10.0.22631.7711; Win11 24H2 >= 10.0.26100.9974; Win11 25H2 >= 10.0.26200.9974; Win11 26H1 >= 10.0.28000.3501; Win11 26H2 >= 10.0.26300.9974; Server 2022 >= 10.0.20348.5870; Server 2025 >= 10.0.26100.33822

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10T19:24:36+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-112981
- 2026-11-11T00:00:58+00:00 analyst https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/cve-2026-112981 — Affected/fixed builds read from NVD's copy of Microsoft CNA data; MSRC page is JS-only and returned empty, so nothing marked verified. Not in KEV, not exploited per ZDI Nov 2026 review (only Outlook CVE-2026-124194 exploited). No workaround or config note found.

## Documents

- [describes] NVD CVE-2026-112981 (Microsoft CNA affected builds) https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/cve-2026-112981

## From the sources

Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Print Spooler Components allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

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