CVE-2026-88076

Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete

Windows Installer Null Pointer Dereference Privilege Escalation

Publication date: 2026-10-13

Last updated on: 2026-10-16

Assigner: Microsoft Corporation

Description

Null pointer dereference in Windows Installer allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

Probability:
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Meta Information

Published

2026-10-13

Last Modified

2026-10-16

Generated

2026-10-19

AI Q&A

2026-10-14

EPSS Evaluated

2026-10-18

NVD

CVE-2026-88076

EUVD

EUVD-2026-100071

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
microsoft	windows_server_2012	r2
microsoft	windows_server_2012	*
microsoft	windows_10_1607	to 10.0.14393.9612 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_1607	to 10.0.14393.9612 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_1809	to 10.0.17763.9376 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_1809	to 10.0.17763.9376 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	to 10.0.19044.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	to 10.0.19044.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	to 10.0.19044.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_23h2	to 10.0.22631.7652 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_23h2	to 10.0.22631.7652 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	to 10.0.26100.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	to 10.0.26100.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	to 10.0.26200.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	to 10.0.26200.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h1	to 10.0.28000.3231 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h1	to 10.0.28000.3231 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h2	to 10.0.26300.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h2	to 10.0.26300.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2025	to 10.0.26100.33650 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2022	to 10.0.20348.5761 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2016	to 10.0.14393.9612 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2019	to 10.0.17763.9376 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	to 10.0.19045.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	to 10.0.19045.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	to 10.0.19045.7807 (exc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-476	The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a null pointer dereference flaw in Windows Installer. It allows an authorized attacker with local access to elevate their privileges on the system.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability involves a null pointer dereference in Windows Installer. Detection typically requires monitoring for unusual privilege escalation events or crashes in Windows Installer processes. Check Windows Event Logs for application crashes related to msiexec.exe or installer services. Use commands like 'wevtutil qe System /c:50 /rd:true /f:text | findstr msiexec' to search for installer-related errors.

Impact Analysis

An attacker could exploit this to gain higher-level permissions on your system, potentially allowing them to install malicious software, access sensitive data, or take control of your device.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability allows local privilege escalation through a null pointer dereference in Windows Installer. Such attacks could enable unauthorized access to sensitive systems, potentially violating data protection requirements under GDPR and HIPAA by exposing or altering protected health or personal data.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest security updates from Microsoft to patch the Windows Installer null pointer dereference vulnerability. Monitor Microsoft's update guide for the specific patch release.

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