# CVE-2026-96027: Windows Installer use after free privilege escalation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96027-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-2026-96027 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-11-10

Windows Installer, a core Windows component used to install and manage applications, contains a use-after-free vulnerability that allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges on the local system. An attacker with user-level access could exploit this to gain administrative control of the affected machine.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-96027 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-96027 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-96027?** 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-2026-96027?** 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-2026-96027 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-96027?** 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 in Windows Installer allows an authenticated local attacker to escalate privileges. The vulnerability requires user-level access to trigger and enables elevation to administrative privileges. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows Installer

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10: disclosed

## References

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96027](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96027)

## 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)