# CVE-2026-96035: Windows Installer use-after-free privilege escalation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96035-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-2026-96035 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-11-10

Windows Installer, the system component that installs and manages software on Windows computers, contains a use-after-free vulnerability that allows an authorized attacker to escalate their privileges from a limited user account to administrator level. An attacker with local access can exploit this flaw to gain full control of the system and potentially install malware or steal sensitive data.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-96035 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-96035 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-96035?** 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-2026-96035?** 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-2026-96035 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-96035?** 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 enables privilege escalation when an authorized local attacker manipulates memory that has been freed but is still referenced by the installer process. The vulnerability requires local system access and existing user privileges to trigger, and successful exploitation grants administrator-level access.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows Installer

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10: disclosed

## References

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96035](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96035)

## 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)