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

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96852-use-after-free-in-windows-tcp-ip-allows-an-authorized-attacker-to  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-13. Updated: 2026-10-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

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](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows-tcp-ip). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/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

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96852](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96852)

## Related threats

- [Microsoft Windows TCP/IP security feature bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-69793-microsoft-windows-tcp-ip-security-feature-bypass)
- [Microsoft Windows TCP/IP use-after-free privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-69757-microsoft-windows-tcp-ip-use-after-free-privilege-escalation)