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Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability · CVE-2026-96309

Windows Subsystem for Linux Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Published Oct 13, 2026 · catalog updated Oct 16, 2026 · Microsoft Windows 10 Version 21H2

Severity
High7.8
Known exploitation
Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
EPSS
0.3%
Remediation
Advisory link
Affected products
vendor Microsoft Windows 10 Version 21H2 · vendor Microsoft Windows 10 Version 22H2 · vendor Microsoft Windows 11 Version 23H2 · vendor Microsoft Windows 11 Version 24H2 · vendor Microsoft Windows 11 Version 25H2 · vendor Microsoft Windows 11 Version 26H2

Use after free in Windows Subsystem for Linux allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Technical analysis

Mechanism and impact are interpreted from ingested advisories — not independent exploit research.

  • CWE classification

    Use After Free

  • Prerequisites and impact

    Follow the original vendor advisory for access prerequisites and impact. This catalog does not invent exploit conditions.

How to fix CVE-2026-96309

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

CVE-2026-96309 is a high public vulnerability record for Microsoft Windows 10 Version 21H2. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether Microsoft Windows 10 Version 21H2 is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: Microsoft Windows 10 Version 21H2; Microsoft Windows 10 Version 22H2; Microsoft Windows 11 Version 23H2; Microsoft Windows 11 Version 24H2. Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: CVSS 7.8 (technical impact); EPSS 0.3% (30-day exploitation probability). It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Weakness classes: CWE-416. Sources contributing to this record: cve_org, epss, tenable. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Related intelligence

  • Exploitation evidence

    Not listed as known exploited in CISA KEV. Not in CISA KEV or VulnCheck KEV.

  • Safe detection guidance

    Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Technology hubs

Windows security

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Oct 16, 2026 · Tenable CVE Database

    Detected

    Use after free in Windows Subsystem for Linux allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

  2. Oct 16, 2026 · CVE.org

    Updated

    Use after free in Windows Subsystem for Linux allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Affected versions

Enter an installed version to get a verified affected / not-affected result against the ranges below.

  • vendor Microsoft Windows 10 Version 21H2version unspecified
  • vendor Microsoft Windows 10 Version 22H2version unspecified
  • vendor Microsoft Windows 11 Version 23H2version unspecified
  • vendor Microsoft Windows 11 Version 24H2version unspecified
  • vendor Microsoft Windows 11 Version 25H2version unspecified
  • vendor Microsoft Windows 11 Version 26H2version unspecified
  • vendor Microsoft Windows 11 version 23H2version unspecified
  • vendor Microsoft Windows 11 version 26H1version unspecified

Sources

  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-96309

    Use after free in Windows Subsystem for Linux allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-96309

    30-day exploitation probability 0.3%

    first.org
  • Tenable CVE DatabaseVulnerability recordCVE-2026-96309

    Use after free in Windows Subsystem for Linux allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

    tenable.com

References

Freshness

Last verified in this catalog Oct 18, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.