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

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96994-use-after-free-in-winsock-allows-an-authorized-attacker-to  
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-2026-96994 · 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](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/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

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96994](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96994)

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