CVE-2026-96852: Windows TCP/IP use-after-free privilege elevation

CVE-2026-96852 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-10-13

A use-after-free vulnerability in Windows TCP/IP networking stack allows an authenticated attacker to elevate their privileges on a local system. An attacker with regular user access could exploit this to gain system-level control, potentially enabling installation of malware, theft of sensitive data, or system compromise.

Technologies: Microsoft Windows TCP/IP. Vendors: Microsoft.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-96852 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-96852 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-96852?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 13 October 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Microsoft Windows TCP/IP.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-96852?
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-2026-96852 attacked?
It is attacked with local access.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-96852?
Check whether you run Microsoft Windows TCP/IP. 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 flaw exists in the Windows TCP/IP stack, exploitable by an authenticated local attacker. The vulnerability allows privilege escalation from user-level to system-level. An attacker must already have legitimate access to the system to trigger this flaw.

Affected products

  • Microsoft Windows TCP/IP

Timeline

  • 2026-10-13: disclosed

References

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