CVE-2026-72963: Windows Modern Execution Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Severity: high (CVSS 7.0 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.3% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-09-08 · updated 2026-10-31
Weakness: CWE-416

Description

Use after free in Windows Modern Execution Server allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Affected products

Microsoft Windows 10 1607: before 10.0.14393.9512 — fixed in 10.0.14393.9512
Microsoft Windows 10: before 10.0.17763.9245 — fixed in 10.0.17763.9245
Microsoft Windows 10: before 10.0.19044.7725 — fixed in 10.0.19044.7725
Microsoft Windows 10: before 10.0.19045.7725 — fixed in 10.0.19045.7725
Microsoft Windows 11: before 10.0.22631.7582 — fixed in 10.0.22631.7582
Microsoft Windows 11: before 10.0.26100.9445 — fixed in 10.0.26100.9445
Microsoft Windows 11 25H2: before 10.0.26200.9445 — fixed in 10.0.26200.9445
Microsoft Windows 11 version 26H1: before 10.0.28000.2954 — fixed in 10.0.28000.2954
Microsoft Windows Server 2016: before 10.0.14393.9512 — fixed in 10.0.14393.9512
Microsoft Windows Server 2019: before 10.0.17763.9245 — fixed in 10.0.17763.9245
Microsoft Windows Server 2022: before 10.0.20348.5622 — fixed in 10.0.20348.5622
Microsoft Windows Server 2025: before 10.0.26100.33438 — fixed in 10.0.26100.33438
Microsoft Windows 10 1607: from 10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9512 — fixed in 10.0.14393.9512
Microsoft Windows 10: from 10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.9245 — fixed in 10.0.17763.9245
Microsoft Windows 10: from 10.0.19044.0 before 10.0.19044.7725 — fixed in 10.0.19044.7725
Microsoft Windows 10: from 10.0.19045.0 before 10.0.19045.7725 — fixed in 10.0.19045.7725
Microsoft Windows 11: from 10.0.22631.0 before 10.0.22631.7582 — fixed in 10.0.22631.7582
Microsoft Windows 11: from 10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.9445 — fixed in 10.0.26100.9445
Microsoft Windows 11 25H2: from 10.0.26200.0 before 10.0.26200.9445 — fixed in 10.0.26200.9445
Microsoft Windows 11 version 26H1: from 10.0.28000.0 before 10.0.28000.2954 — fixed in 10.0.28000.2954
Microsoft Windows Server 2016: from 10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9512 — fixed in 10.0.14393.9512
Microsoft Windows Server 2019: from 10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.9245 — fixed in 10.0.17763.9245
Microsoft Windows Server 2022: from 10.0.20348.0 before 10.0.20348.5622 — fixed in 10.0.20348.5622
Microsoft Windows Server 2025: from 10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.33438 — fixed in 10.0.26100.33438

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Microsoft Windows 10 1607 10.0.14393.9512; Microsoft Windows 10 10.0.17763.9245; Microsoft Windows 10 10.0.19044.7725; Microsoft Windows 10 10.0.19045.7725; Microsoft Windows 11 10.0.22631.7582; Microsoft Windows 11 10.0.26100.9445; Microsoft Windows 11 25H2 10.0.26200.9445; Microsoft Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.2954; Microsoft Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.9512; Microsoft Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.9245; Microsoft Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.5622; Microsoft Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.33438. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-72963

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