---
id: "CVE-2026-96175"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-96175"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-96175"]
title: "Windows Desktop Window Manager: invalid pointer release lets local users gain privileges"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.8
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Desktop Window Manager", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["desktop-window-manager", "infrastructure", "windows"]
not_affected_if: []
published_at: "2026-11-10T19:22:17+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-10T19:25:32+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-10T19:40:22+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96175", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:25:32+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": null, "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:40:22+00:00"}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Windows Desktop Window Manager: invalid pointer release lets local users gain privileges

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-96175 (this .md is for agents)

Desktop Window Manager, the Windows component that draws the screen, releases an invalid pointer or reference. A signed-in user with low privileges can use this to gain higher privileges on the same machine.

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

## Affected

- vendor:Desktop Window Manager affected range not listed fixed no fixed version listed

## How to check

Unknown. Microsoft's Update Guide entry for CVE-2026-96175 lists the affected Windows builds and KBs, but I could not read it. Compare the installed November 2026 cumulative update (Settings > Windows Update > Update history) against that entry.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10T19:25:32+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-96175
- 2026-11-10T19:40:22+00:00 analyst — Could not read the MSRC entry: the page is JS-only (browser session died), web-cli returned nothing, and the November 2026 CVRF is over 10 MB. No affected builds, KBs or fix confirmed. Nothing verified. Only part of the exposure is known from NVD/triage: local low-privilege EoP in DWM. To settle it, read the CVE-2026-96175 entry in the MSRC Update Guide or CSAF.

## From the sources

Release of invalid pointer or reference in Desktop Window Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

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