CVE-2026-96994: Microsoft Windows Winsock use after free privilege escalation

CVE-2026-96994 · Severity: high · CVSS 7 · Published 2026-11-10

Windows Winsock is a networking component used by applications to communicate over networks. A use-after-free vulnerability in Winsock allows an authorized local attacker to gain elevated privileges on the system, potentially leading to full system compromise.

Technologies: Microsoft Windows. Vendors: Microsoft.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-96994 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-96994 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-96994?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 7, published 10 November 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Microsoft Windows <UNKNOWN>.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-96994?
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-2026-96994 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-96994?
Check whether you run Microsoft Windows at an affected version. 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 memory corruption vulnerability exists in the Windows Winsock component. An authenticated local attacker can exploit this flaw to escalate privileges from a user-level context to system-level context, gaining complete control over the affected system.

Affected products

  • Microsoft Windows <UNKNOWN>

Timeline

  • 2026-11-10: disclosed

References

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