---
id: "CVE-2026-96035"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-96035"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-96035"]
title: "Windows Installer: use-after-free lets a local user gain higher privileges"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.0
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Windows 10 22H2", "fixed": ["10.0.19045.7846"], "affected": "10.0.19045.0 - < 10.0.19045.7846", "ecosystem": "microsoft"}, {"name": "Windows 11 24H2", "fixed": ["10.0.26100.9974"], "affected": "10.0.26100.0 - < 10.0.26100.9974", "ecosystem": "microsoft"}, {"name": "Windows 11 25H2", "fixed": ["10.0.26200.9974"], "affected": "10.0.26200.0 - < 10.0.26200.9974", "ecosystem": "microsoft"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2022", "fixed": ["10.0.20348.5870"], "affected": "10.0.20348.0 - < 10.0.20348.5870", "ecosystem": "microsoft"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2025", "fixed": ["10.0.26100.33822"], "affected": "10.0.26100.0 - < 10.0.26100.33822", "ecosystem": "microsoft"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2019", "fixed": ["10.0.17763.9487"], "affected": "10.0.17763.0 - < 10.0.17763.9487", "ecosystem": "microsoft"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2016", "fixed": ["10.0.14393.9688"], "affected": "10.0.14393.0 - < 10.0.14393.9688", "ecosystem": "microsoft"}]
ecosystems: []
tags: ["infrastructure", "local-privilege-escalation", "windows", "windows-installer"]
not_affected_if: ["no-untrusted-local-users", "single-user-machines"]
published_at: "2026-11-10T19:22:00+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-10T19:25:27+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-10T20:04:42+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96035", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:25:27+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96035", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T20:04:42+00:00", "cites": ["https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96035"]}]
exploit_sources: []
---

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

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-96035 (this .md is for agents)

Windows Installer has a use-after-free memory bug that lets an attacker who already has a local account raise their privileges. The attacker gets elevated rights on the same Windows machine.

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

## Affected

- microsoft:Windows 10 22H2 affected 10.0.19045.0 - < 10.0.19045.7846 fixed 10.0.19045.7846
- microsoft:Windows 11 24H2 affected 10.0.26100.0 - < 10.0.26100.9974 fixed 10.0.26100.9974
- microsoft:Windows 11 25H2 affected 10.0.26200.0 - < 10.0.26200.9974 fixed 10.0.26200.9974
- microsoft:Windows Server 2022 affected 10.0.20348.0 - < 10.0.20348.5870 fixed 10.0.20348.5870
- microsoft:Windows Server 2025 affected 10.0.26100.0 - < 10.0.26100.33822 fixed 10.0.26100.33822
- microsoft:Windows Server 2019 affected 10.0.17763.0 - < 10.0.17763.9487 fixed 10.0.17763.9487
- microsoft:Windows Server 2016 affected 10.0.14393.0 - < 10.0.14393.9688 fixed 10.0.14393.9688

## How to check

Run winver (or [System.Environment]::OSVersion.Version / cmd 'ver') and compare the full build.revision with the fixed builds in the fix field; lower means exposed. Matters most on shared machines, terminal servers, and CI hosts with several local users.

## Fix

Install the November 2026 cumulative update that brings the build to at least: Win10 1607/Server 2016 10.0.14393.9688; 1809/Server 2019 10.0.17763.9487; Win10 21H2/22H2 10.0.19044.7846 / 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. KB numbers: see the MSRC entry.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10T19:25:27+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96035
- 2026-11-10T20:04:42+00:00 analyst https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96035 — MSRC page is JS-only and unreadable; builds taken from NVD's Microsoft-CNA affected list (not the MSRC page), so nothing marked verified. KB numbers unknown; no exploitation or PoC seen.

## Documents

- [describes] NVD CVE-2026-96035 (Microsoft CNA affected builds) https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96035

## From the sources

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

---

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