Description
Use after free in Windows TCP/IP allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Published: 2026-10-13
Score: 7 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Local privilege escalation via a use‑after‑free bug in the Windows TCP/IP stack
Action: Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

The vulnerability is a classic use‑after‑free flaw in the Windows TCP/IP networking code, classified as CWE-416. When triggered by an authorized local attacker, the flaw allows the attacker to acquire elevated local privileges, potentially enabling full control over the affected system.

Affected Systems

Microsoft Windows 10 versions 1607 through 22H2, Windows 11 releases 23H2 to 26H2, and all Windows Server editions from Server 2012 up to Server 2025 are impacted.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 7 indicates moderate‑to‑high severity, while the EPSS score is not available, so the likelihood of exploitation is uncertain. The vulnerability requires local, authorized access and is not a remote exploit, but once locally exploited it can lead to full system compromise. The vulnerability is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The expected attack vector involves a legitimate user interacting with a network service that triggers the use‑after‑free condition, after which the attacker can elevate privileges.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 14, 2026 at 11:12 UTC.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Install the Microsoft security update that resolves CVE-2026-96852 via Windows Update or WSUS as soon as it becomes available
  • Monitor the Microsoft Security Response Center advisories for the release date and deployment guidance
  • Reinforce least‑privilege policies on local accounts and disable or limit non‑essential network services

Generated by OpenCVE AI on October 14, 2026 at 11:12 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Microsoft windows Server 2012 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)
Vendors & Products Microsoft windows Server 2012 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 19:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Microsoft windows 11 26h2
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
Vendors & Products Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Microsoft windows 11 26h2

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Tue, 13 Oct 2026 19:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Use after free in Windows TCP/IP allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Title Windows TCP/IP Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
First Time appeared Microsoft
Microsoft windows 10 1607
Microsoft windows 10 1809
Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Microsoft windows 11 Version 26h2 For Arm64-based Systems
Microsoft windows Server 2012
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft windows Server 2016
Microsoft windows Server 2019
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 2025
Weaknesses CWE-416
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:windows_11_version_26h2_for_arm64-based_systems:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26H1:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012_R2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Microsoft
Microsoft windows 10 1607
Microsoft windows 10 1809
Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows 11 26h1
Microsoft windows 11 Version 26h2 For Arm64-based Systems
Microsoft windows Server 2012
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft windows Server 2016
Microsoft windows Server 2019
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 2025
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C'}


Subscriptions

Microsoft Windows 10 1607 Windows 10 1809 Windows 10 21h2 Windows 10 21h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 11 23h2 Windows 11 23h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 26h1 Windows 11 26h1 Windows 11 26h2 Windows 11 Version 26h2 For Arm64-based Systems Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2012 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2012 R2 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2022 Windows Server 2025 Windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: microsoft

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-31T18:11:21.973Z

Reserved: 2026-09-23T18:05:21.201Z

Link: CVE-2026-96852

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-10-13T19:42:37.599Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-10-13T19:21:58.663

Modified: 2026-10-16T19:22:42.083

Link: CVE-2026-96852

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-23T19:45:17Z

Weaknesses