---
id: "CVE-2026-96171"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-96171"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-96171"]
title: "Windows Graphics Kernel: 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 Graphics Kernel", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["infrastructure", "windows", "windows-graphics-kernel"]
not_affected_if: []
published_at: "2026-11-10T19:22:16+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-10T19:25:32+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-10T19:50:20+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96171", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:25:32+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": null, "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:50:20+00:00"}]
exploit_sources: []
---

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

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-96171 (this .md is for agents)

A use-after-free bug in the Windows Graphics Kernel lets an attacker who already has a local account elevate their privileges. The attacker gets the rights of a higher-privileged account on the same machine.

_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

## How to check

unknown: check Microsoft's Security Update Guide entry for CVE-2026-96171 for the affected Windows builds and KB, then compare with winver / Get-HotFix on each machine.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10T19:25:32+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96171
- 2026-11-10T19:50:20+00:00 analyst — Could not read Microsoft's advisory: MSRC page is JS-only (WebFetch empty), CVRF API too large, browser-cli 402, web-cli unavailable. NVD page also returned no content. No affected builds/KB found; nothing verified. Revisit when MSRC text is reachable.

## From the sources

Use after free in Windows Graphics Kernel 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_