---
id: "CVE-2026-96168"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-96168"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-96168"]
title: "Windows Graphics Kernel: pointer flaw lets a local user gain system privileges"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.0
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Windows Graphics Kernel", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows 10 1607 / Server 2016", "fixed": ["10.0.14393.9688"], "affected": "< 10.0.14393.9688", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"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: ["graphics-kernel", "infrastructure", "local", "privilege-escalation", "windows"]
not_affected_if: ["patched"]
published_at: "2026-11-10T19:22:13+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-10T19:25:32+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-10T19:50:26+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96168", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:25:32+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96168", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:50:26+00:00", "cites": ["https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96168"]}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Windows Graphics Kernel: pointer flaw lets a local user gain system privileges

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-96168 (this .md is for agents)

An untrusted pointer dereference in the Windows Graphics Kernel lets a user who already has local access raise their privileges. The sources do not say which Windows builds are affected or what triggers the flaw.

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

## Affected

- vendor:Windows Graphics Kernel affected range not listed fixed no fixed version listed
- vendor:Windows 10 1607 / Server 2016 affected < 10.0.14393.9688 fixed 10.0.14393.9688
- 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 in PowerShell and compare the build (10.0.<build>.<revision>) to the fixed builds in the product rows. Below the fixed build means exposed. Confirm on the Microsoft Security Update Guide page for CVE-2026-96168.

## Fix

Install the November 2026 Windows cumulative update: 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 24H2/25H2 10.0.26100.9974 / 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.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10T19:25:32+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96168
- 2026-11-10T19:50:26+00:00 analyst https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96168 — NVD page relays Microsoft CNA affected builds; MSRC page is JS-only and unreadable, so nothing marked verified. No exploitation or PoC seen.

## Documents

- [describes] NVD CVE-2026-96168 (Microsoft CNA data) https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96168

## From the sources

Untrusted pointer dereference in Windows Graphics Kernel allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

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