---
id: "CVE-2026-95968"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-95968"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-95968"]
title: "Windows Smart Card: use-after-free lets a local user gain higher privileges"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.0
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["infrastructure", "local-privilege-escalation", "smart-card", "windows", "windows-server"]
not_affected_if: ["no-smart-card-use"]
published_at: "2026-11-10T19:21:53+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-10T19:25:25+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-10T20:17:53+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-95968", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:25:25+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": "https://cve.report/CVE-2026-95968", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T20:17:53+00:00", "cites": ["https://cve.report/CVE-2026-95968"]}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Windows Smart Card: use-after-free lets a local user gain higher privileges

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-95968 (this .md is for agents)

Use-after-free (CWE-416/822) in Windows Smart Card lets a local user with a low-privilege account gain higher privileges (CVSS 7.0, attack complexity high, no user interaction). Microsoft's CNA record lists Windows 10, 11 and Server builds; not reported exploited. Fixed build/KB not confirmed from the Microsoft page.

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

## How to check

Run winver and compare the build (e.g. 10.0.26100.x) with the table in Microsoft's Security Update Guide entry for CVE-2026-95968. Per Microsoft's CNA record, builds up to and including these are affected: Win10 1607/Server 2016 10.0.14393.9688; 1809/Server 2019 10.0.17763.9487; Win10 21H2 10.0.19044.7846; 22H2 10.0.19045.7846; Win11 23H2 10.0.22631.7711; Win11 24H2 10.0.26100.9974; 25H2 10.0.26200.9974; 26H1 10.0.28000.3501; 26H2 10.0.26300.9974; Server 2022 10.0.20348.5870; Server 2025 10.0.26100.33822. The exact fixed build and KB are unconfirmed.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10T19:25:25+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-95968
- 2026-11-10T20:17:53+00:00 analyst https://cve.report/CVE-2026-95968 — MSRC page is JS-only and unreadable here; affected builds taken from Microsoft CNA record via CVE.report mirror (not primary, nothing verified). KB numbers not found. Not exploited per sources I could read; no PoC seen.

## Documents

- [describes] CVE-2026-95968 (CVE.report mirror of Microsoft CNA record) https://cve.report/CVE-2026-95968

## From the sources

Use after free in Windows Smart Card allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

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_Free to read, with fair use of about 60 pages a minute. For higher limits or API access: sales@infrastack.ai_