---
id: "CVE-2026-96073"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-96073"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-96073"]
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: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["infrastructure", "windows", "windows-installer"]
not_affected_if: ["no-untrusted-local-users", "single-user-machine"]
published_at: "2026-11-10T19:22:05+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-10T19:25:29+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-10T19:54:47+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96073", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:25:29+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96073", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:54:47+00:00", "cites": ["https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96073"]}]
exploit_sources: []
---

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

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-96073 (this .md is for agents)

A memory-handling bug in Windows Installer lets an attacker who already has a local account raise their privileges. The sources do not describe the trigger in detail.

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

## How to check

- Open the MSRC entry for CVE-2026-96073 (https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96073), find your Windows version in its Security Updates table and note the KB number. Run winver (or Get-HotFix -Id KB<number>) to see whether that update or a later cumulative update is installed.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10T19:25:29+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96073
- 2026-11-10T19:54:47+00:00 analyst https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96073 — MSRC entry is JavaScript-only; web-cli returned no content, so builds, KB numbers and fix are unread. No exploitation or PoC found in search. Nothing verified. Revisit with browser-cli or Microsoft's CVRF feed.

## Documents

- [advisory] MSRC Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-96073 (JS-only, content not readable) https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96073

## 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_