# CVE-2026-96026: Windows Installer use-after-free privilege escalation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96026-use-after-free-in-windows-installer-allows-an-authorized-attacker  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-11-10. Updated: 2026-11-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-96026 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-11-10

Windows Installer, which manages software installation and removal on Windows systems, contains a use-after-free vulnerability that allows an authorized local user to elevate their privileges to a higher level of access. An attacker with existing local account access could exploit this flaw to gain administrative or system-level privileges, potentially leading to full system compromise.

Technologies: [Microsoft Windows Installer](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows-installer). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-96026 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-96026 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-96026?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 10 November 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Windows Installer.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-96026?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-96026 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-96026?** Check whether you run Microsoft Windows Installer. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A use-after-free vulnerability exists in Windows Installer's memory handling. An authorized local attacker can trigger this flaw to escalate privileges, gaining elevated system access. The attack vector is local and requires pre-existing user authentication on the target system.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows Installer

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10: disclosed

## References

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96026](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96026)

## Related threats

- [Microsoft Windows Installer stack-based buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96152-stack-based-buffer-overflow-in-windows-installer-allows-an)
- [Windows Installer heap-based buffer overflow allows privilege elevation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96085-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-windows-installer-allows-an)
- [Microsoft Windows Installer heap-based buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96062-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-windows-installer-allows-an)
- [Windows Installer use-after-free privilege elevation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96061-use-after-free-in-windows-installer-allows-an-authorized-attacker)
- [Windows Installer out-of-bounds read privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96060-out-of-bounds-read-in-windows-installer-allows-an-authorized)