Is CVE-2026-96868 exploited in the wild?

No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-96868 being exploited in the wild.

How severe is CVE-2026-96868?

High severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 13 October 2026.

Is there a fix for CVE-2026-96868?

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-2026-96868 attacked?

It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

Am I affected by CVE-2026-96868?

Check whether you run Microsoft Windows Kernel, Microsoft Windows 11 24h2, Microsoft Windows 11 25h2 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.

CVE-2026-96868: Windows Kernel heap-based buffer overflow privilege escalation

CVE-2026-96868 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-10-13

A flaw in the Windows operating system's core kernel allows an authorized user to crash the system or gain higher-level access by exploiting a memory handling error. An attacker with legitimate local access could use this vulnerability to take control of the entire system and access sensitive data or install malware.

Technologies: Microsoft Windows Kernel, Microsoft Windows 11 24h2, Microsoft Windows 11 25h2, Microsoft Windows 11 26h2, Microsoft Windows Server 2025. Vendors: Microsoft.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-96868 exploited in the wild?: No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-96868 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-96868?: High severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 13 October 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?: Microsoft Windows Kernel.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-96868?: 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-2026-96868 attacked?: It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-96868?: Check whether you run Microsoft Windows Kernel, Microsoft Windows 11 24h2, Microsoft Windows 11 25h2 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

A heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Kernel allows an authenticated local attacker to escalate privileges. The vulnerability requires existing user-level access to trigger, and successful exploitation grants system-level privileges. Microsoft has issued a security update addressing this issue.

Affected products

Microsoft Windows Kernel

Timeline

2026-10-13: disclosed

References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96868

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