CVE-2026-96323: Windows Update use after free privilege escalation

CVE-2026-96323 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-10-13

Windows Update, a critical system service that installs security patches and updates on Windows computers, contains a use-after-free vulnerability that allows an authorized local user to escalate their privileges to administrator level. An attacker with a valid user account on the target machine can exploit this flaw to gain full system control, potentially enabling malware installation, data theft, or system compromise.

Technologies: Microsoft Windows Update, 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, Microsoft Windows Server 2022, Microsoft Windows Server 2025. Vendors: Microsoft.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-96323 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-96323 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-96323?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 13 October 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Microsoft Windows Update.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-96323?
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-2026-96323 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-96323?
Check whether you run Microsoft Windows Update, Microsoft Windows 10 21h2, Microsoft Windows 10 22h2 or one of the others listed. 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

This is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Windows Update component that permits privilege escalation through local attack vector. The vulnerability requires prior authorization (valid user account on the system) and allows an attacker to elevate from user to system privileges. Exploitation involves accessing freed memory that may still be executable or contain sensitive data within the Windows Update process.

Affected products

  • Microsoft Windows Update

Timeline

  • 2026-10-13: disclosed

References

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