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CVE-2026-88188: Windows 10/11 DWM Core Library allows privilege escalation

CVE-2026-88188 · published 22 days ago

Summary

The desktop composition component in Windows 10 (versions 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2) and Windows 11 (version 23H2) can be tricked into reading data it shouldn't. A user who already has access to the computer could use this flaw to gain higher system rights. Install the latest Microsoft security updates to fix the issue.

What to do

Update microsoft windows 10 version 1607 to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows 10 version 1809 to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows 10 version 21h2 to version 10.0.19044.7807 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 23h2 to version 10.0.22631.7652 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 24h2 to version 10.0.26100.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 25h2 to version 10.0.26200.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 26h2 to version 10.0.26300.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2016 to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2016 (server core installation) to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2019 to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2019 (server core installation) to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2022 to version 10.0.20348.5761 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2025 to version 10.0.26100.33650 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2025 (server core installation) to version 10.0.26100.33650 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_1607 to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_1809 to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_21h2 to version 10.0.19044.7807 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_22h2 to version 10.0.19045.7807 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_23h2 to version 10.0.22631.7652 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_24h2 to version 10.0.26100.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_25h2 to version 10.0.26200.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_26h2 to version 10.0.26300.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2016 to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2019 to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2022 to version 10.0.20348.5761 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2025 to version 10.0.26100.33650 or later.

Affected software

Vendor	Product	Affected versions
microsoft	windows 10 version 1607	< 10.0.14393.9612
microsoft	windows 10 version 1809	< 10.0.17763.9376
microsoft	windows 10 version 21h2	< 10.0.19044.7807
microsoft	windows 10 version 22h2	< 10.0.19044.7807 < 10.0.19045.7807
microsoft	windows 11 version 23h2	< 10.0.22631.7652
microsoft	windows 11 version 24h2	< 10.0.26100.9711
microsoft	windows 11 version 25h2	< 10.0.26200.9711
microsoft	windows 11 version 26h2	< 10.0.26300.9711
microsoft	windows server 2016	< 10.0.14393.9612
microsoft	windows server 2016 (server core installation)	< 10.0.14393.9612
microsoft	windows server 2019	< 10.0.17763.9376
microsoft	windows server 2019 (server core installation)	< 10.0.17763.9376
microsoft	windows server 2022	< 10.0.20348.5761
microsoft	windows server 2025	< 10.0.26100.33650
microsoft	windows server 2025 (server core installation)	< 10.0.26100.33650
microsoft	windows_10_1607	< 10.0.14393.9612 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:::::::x64:*`
microsoft	windows_10_1809	< 10.0.17763.9376 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:::::::x64:*`
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	< 10.0.19044.7807 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	< 10.0.19045.7807 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_23h2	< 10.0.22631.7652 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	< 10.0.26100.9711 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	< 10.0.26200.9711 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_26h2	< 10.0.26300.9711 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_server_2016	< 10.0.14393.9612 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016::::::::`
microsoft	windows_server_2019	< 10.0.17763.9376 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019::::::::`
microsoft	windows_server_2022	< 10.0.20348.5761 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022::::::::`
microsoft	windows_server_2025	< 10.0.26100.33650 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:::::::x64:*`

Original advisory text

Windows DWM Core Library Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Out-of-bounds read in Windows DWM Core Library allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-88188 vendor-advisory patch

Fix within

Internet-facing 14 days

Internal At next upgrade

Not known to be exploited
Needs hands-on effort to exploit
Gives an attacker full control

Severity

7.8 High

Exploitation

<1% chance of attack within 30 days

Type

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read

Timeline

Published13 Oct 2026

Updated31 Oct 2026

First seen13 Oct 2026

Sources

CVE-2026-88188 · NVD

CVE-2026-88188 · MITRE

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