---
id: "CVE-2026-96038"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-96038"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-96038"]
title: "Windows Audio Service: local attacker can elevate privileges to system"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.8
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Windows 10 1809 / Server 2019", "fixed": ["10.0.17763.9487"], "affected": "< 10.0.17763.9487", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 10 21H2", "fixed": ["10.0.19044.7846"], "affected": "< 10.0.19044.7846", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 10 22H2", "fixed": ["10.0.19045.7846"], "affected": "< 10.0.19045.7846", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 23H2", "fixed": ["10.0.22631.7711"], "affected": "< 10.0.22631.7711", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 24H2", "fixed": ["10.0.26100.9974"], "affected": "< 10.0.26100.9974", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 25H2", "fixed": ["10.0.26200.9974"], "affected": "< 10.0.26200.9974", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 26H1", "fixed": ["10.0.28000.3501"], "affected": "< 10.0.28000.3501", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 11 26H2", "fixed": ["10.0.26300.9974"], "affected": "< 10.0.26300.9974", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2022", "fixed": ["10.0.20348.5870"], "affected": "< 10.0.20348.5870", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2025", "fixed": ["10.0.26100.33822"], "affected": "< 10.0.26100.33822", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["infrastructure", "local", "privilege-escalation", "title-review", "windows", "windows-audio-service"]
not_affected_if: []
published_at: "2026-11-10T19:22:00+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-10T19:25:28+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-10T20:03:32+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96038", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:25:28+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96038", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T20:03:32+00:00", "cites": ["https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96038"]}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Windows Audio Service: local attacker can elevate privileges to system

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-96038 (this .md is for agents)

Inclusion of functionality from an untrusted control sphere (CWE-829) in the Windows Audio Service lets a local user with a low-privilege account elevate privileges (CVSS 7.8). Microsoft lists Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server 2019/2022/2025 builds below the November 2026 update as affected.

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

## Affected

- vendor:Windows 10 1809 / Server 2019 affected < 10.0.17763.9487 fixed 10.0.17763.9487
- vendor:Windows 10 21H2 affected < 10.0.19044.7846 fixed 10.0.19044.7846
- vendor:Windows 10 22H2 affected < 10.0.19045.7846 fixed 10.0.19045.7846
- vendor:Windows 11 23H2 affected < 10.0.22631.7711 fixed 10.0.22631.7711
- vendor:Windows 11 24H2 affected < 10.0.26100.9974 fixed 10.0.26100.9974
- vendor:Windows 11 25H2 affected < 10.0.26200.9974 fixed 10.0.26200.9974
- vendor:Windows 11 26H1 affected < 10.0.28000.3501 fixed 10.0.28000.3501
- vendor:Windows 11 26H2 affected < 10.0.26300.9974 fixed 10.0.26300.9974
- vendor:Windows Server 2022 affected < 10.0.20348.5870 fixed 10.0.20348.5870
- vendor:Windows Server 2025 affected < 10.0.26100.33822 fixed 10.0.26100.33822

## How to check

Run winver or [System.Environment]::OSVersion and compare the build (10.0.<build>.<revision>) with the fixed builds listed in the fix field; any build below is affected. Only local, authenticated access is needed to exploit, so shared or multi-user machines, RDP/terminal servers and build hosts matter most.

## Fix

Install the November 2026 Windows cumulative update. Fixed builds per Microsoft CNA data: 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

- 2026-11-10T19:25:28+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96038
- 2026-11-10T20:03:32+00:00 analyst https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96038 — MSRC page is JS-only and was not readable; builds taken from NVD copy of Microsoft CNA data (published Nov 10 2026). KB numbers not found. Nothing marked verified. No exploitation or PoC seen; no sources searched on X.

## Documents

- [describes] NVD CVE-2026-96038 (Microsoft CNA data) https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96038

## From the sources

Inclusion of functionality from untrusted control sphere in Windows Audio Service 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_