# CVE-2026-96971: Windows NetBIOS use-after-free privilege elevation

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96971-use-after-free-in-windows-netbios-allows-an-authorized-attacker  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-11-10. Updated: 2026-11-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-96971 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-11-10

Windows NetBIOS, a legacy network protocol used for file sharing and communication on local networks, contains a use-after-free memory vulnerability. An authenticated attacker with local access can exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges on the system, potentially allowing them to take complete control of the affected computer and access sensitive data or install malware.

Technologies: [Microsoft Windows](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-96971 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-96971 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-96971?** 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-2026-96971?** 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-2026-96971 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-96971?** 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 in the Windows NetBIOS component allows a local authenticated attacker to corrupt memory and execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability requires local access and user authentication as a precondition, but once triggered, can lead to privilege escalation. This is a heap memory safety issue typical of the NetBIOS protocol implementation in Windows.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10: disclosed

## References

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96971](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96971)

## Related threats

- [Windows BitLocker heap buffer overflow with physical attack](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97015-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-windows-bitlocker-allows-an)
- [Microsoft Windows Shell type confusion privilege elevation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97013-access-of-resource-using-incompatible-type-type-confusion-in)
- [Microsoft Windows VMSwitch out-of-bounds read privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97002-out-of-bounds-read-in-windows-vmswitch-allows-an-authorized)
- [Microsoft Windows USM Communication Manager null pointer dereference](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-97000-null-pointer-dereference-in-windows-usm-communication-manager)
- [Microsoft Windows Winsock use after free privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96994-use-after-free-in-winsock-allows-an-authorized-attacker-to)