CVE-2026-96155: Microsoft Windows Audio Service use-after-free privilege escalation

CVE-2026-96155 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-11-10

Windows Audio Service, which handles sound processing on Windows systems, contains a use-after-free vulnerability that allows an authorized user to escalate their privileges to a higher level. An attacker with legitimate user account access could exploit this flaw to gain administrative control of the machine, potentially compromising all data and enabling further malware deployment.

Technologies: Microsoft Windows. Vendors: Microsoft.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-96155 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-96155 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-96155?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 10 November 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Microsoft Windows.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-96155?
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-2026-96155 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-96155?
Check whether you run Microsoft Windows. 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 the Windows Audio Service, exploitable by an authenticated local attacker to achieve privilege escalation. The vulnerability requires the attacker to already have local user access, and no network or user interaction is needed beyond execution of the exploit code locally. Successful exploitation grants the attacker SYSTEM-level privileges.

Affected products

  • Microsoft Windows

Timeline

  • 2026-11-10: disclosed

References

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