CVE-2026-20871
published 2026-01-13CVE-2026-20871: Use after free in Desktop Windows Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
PriorityP353high7.8CVSS 3.1
AVLACLPRLUINSUCHIHAH
EPSS
3.99%
89.4th percentile
Use after free in Desktop Windows Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Affected
31 ranges· showing 25
| Vendor | Product | Version range | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| microsoft | windows_10_21h2 | < 10.0.19044.6809 | 10.0.19044.6809 |
| microsoft | windows_10_22h2 | < 10.0.19045.6809 | 10.0.19045.6809 |
| microsoft | windows_10_version_21h2 | >= 10.0.19044.0 < 10.0.19044.6809 | 10.0.19044.6809 |
| microsoft | windows_10_version_22h2 | >= 10.0.19045.0 < 10.0.19045.6809 | 10.0.19045.6809 |
| microsoft | windows_11_23h2 | < 10.0.22631.6491 | 10.0.22631.6491 |
| microsoft | windows_11_24h2 | < 10.0.26100.7623 | 10.0.26100.7623 |
| microsoft | windows_11_25h2 | < 10.0.26200.7623 | 10.0.26200.7623 |
| microsoft | windows_11_version_22h3 | >= 10.0.22631.0 < 10.0.22631.6491 | 10.0.22631.6491 |
| microsoft | windows_11_version_23h2 | >= 10.0.22631.0 < 10.0.22631.6491 | 10.0.22631.6491 |
| microsoft | windows_11_version_24h2 | >= 10.0.26100.0 < 10.0.26100.7623 | 10.0.26100.7623 |
| microsoft | windows_11_version_25h2 | >= 10.0.26200.0 < 10.0.26200.7623 | 10.0.26200.7623 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2022 | < 10.0.20348.4648 | 10.0.20348.4648 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2022 | >= 10.0.20348.0 < 10.0.20348.4648 | 10.0.20348.4648 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2022_23h2 | < 10.0.25398.2092 | 10.0.25398.2092 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2025 | < 10.0.26100.32230 | 10.0.26100.32230 |
| microsoft | windows_server_2025 | >= 10.0.26100.0 < 10.0.26100.32230 | 10.0.26100.32230 |
| msrc | windows_10_version_21h2_for_32-bit_systems | — | — |
| msrc | windows_10_version_21h2_for_arm64-based_systems | — | — |
| msrc | windows_10_version_21h2_for_x64-based_systems | — | — |
| msrc | windows_10_version_22h2_for_32-bit_systems | — | — |
| msrc | windows_10_version_22h2_for_arm64-based_systems | — | — |
| msrc | windows_10_version_22h2_for_x64-based_systems | — | — |
| msrc | windows_11_version_23h2_for_arm64-based_systems | — | — |
| msrc | windows_11_version_23h2_for_x64-based_systems | — | — |
| msrc | windows_11_version_24h2_for_arm64-based_systems | — | — |
CVSS provenance
nvdv3.17.8HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vendor_msrc7.8HIGH
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Microsoft
Desktop Window Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
vendor_msrc·2026-01-13·CVSS 7.8
CVE-2026-20871 [HIGH] CWE-416 Desktop Window Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Desktop Window Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Description: Use after free in Desktop Windows Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
FAQ: What privileges could be gained by an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability?
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain SYSTEM privileges.
Desktop Window Manager: Desktop Window Manager
Microsoft: Microsoft
Customer Action Required: Yes
Impact: Elevation of Privilege
Exploit Status: Publicly Disclosed:No;Exploited:No;Latest Software Release:Exploitation More Likely
Reference: https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5073457
Reference: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5073457
Reference: https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.a
GHSA
GHSA-7r67-3m5q-v4rm: Use after free in Desktop Windows Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally
ghsa_unreviewed·2026-01-13
CVE-2026-20871 [HIGH] CWE-416 GHSA-7r67-3m5q-v4rm: Use after free in Desktop Windows Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally
Use after free in Desktop Windows Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
No detection rules found.
No public exploits indexed.
Tenable
Microsoft’s January 2026 Patch Tuesday Addresses 113 CVEs (CVE-2026-20805)
blogs_tenable·2026-01-13·CVSS 5.5
[MEDIUM] Microsoft’s January 2026 Patch Tuesday Addresses 113 CVEs (CVE-2026-20805)
## Cloud Exposure
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Tenable Cloud Vulnerability Management Request a demo
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Qualys
Microsoft and Adobe Patch Tuesday, January 2026 Security Update Review
blogs_qualys·2026-01-13
Microsoft and Adobe Patch Tuesday, January 2026 Security Update Review
## Table of Contents
Microsoft Patch Tuesday forJanuary2026
Adobe Patches for January 2026
Zero-day Vulnerabilities Patched inJanuaryPatch Tuesday Edition
Critical Severity Vulnerabilities Patched inJanuaryPatch Tuesday Edition
Other Microsoft Vulnerability Highlights
Microsoft Release Summary
Discover and Prioritize Vulnerabilities inVulnerability Management, Detection & Response (VMDR)
Rapid Response with TruRisk Eliminate
EVALUATE Vendor-Suggested Mitigation withPolicy Audit(PA)
Qualys Monthly Webinar Series
Starting the year on a security-first note, Microsoft’s January 2026 Patch Tuesday resolves several vulnerabilities that could impact enterprise environments. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know.
## Microsoft Patch Tuesday for January 2026
This month’s rel
Bleepingcomputer
Microsoft January 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes 3 zero-days, 114 flaws
blogs_bleepingcomputer·2026-01-13·CVSS 5.5
[MEDIUM] Microsoft January 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes 3 zero-days, 114 flaws
## Microsoft January 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes 3 zero-days, 114 flaws
## Lawrence Abrams
57 Elevation of Privilege vulnerabilities
3 Security Feature Bypass vulnerabilities
22 Remote Code Execution vulnerabilities
22 Information Disclosure vulnerabilities
2 Denial of Service vulnerabilities
5 Spoofing vulnerabilities
When BleepingComputer reports on Patch Tuesday security updates, we only count those released by Microsoft today. Therefore, the number of flaws does not include Microsoft Edge (1 flaw) and Mariner vulnerabilities fixed earlier this month.
To learn more about the non-security updates released today, you can review our dedicated articles on the Windows 11 KB5074109 & KB5073455 cumulative updates and Windows 10 KB5073724 extended security update .
## 3 zero-days, one ex
Talos
Microsoft Patch Tuesday for January 2026 — Snort rules and prominent vulnerabilities
blogs_talos·2026-01-13·CVSS 5.5
CVE-2026-20805 [MEDIUM] Microsoft Patch Tuesday for January 2026 — Snort rules and prominent vulnerabilities
## Microsoft Patch Tuesday for January 2026 — Snort rules and prominent vulnerabilities
Microsoft has released its monthly security update for January 2026, which includes 112 vulnerabilities affecting a range of products, including 8 that Microsoft marked as “critical”.
In this month's release, Microsoft observed one of the included “important” vulnerabilities, CVE-2026-20805 , as being exploited in the wild. Out of 8 "critical" entries, 6 are remote code execution (RCE) vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows services and applications including Windows Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS), Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Office. The two remaining “critical” entries are elevation of privilege (EoP) vulnerabilities affecting Windows Graphic Component and Windows
Talos
Microsoft Patch Tuesday for January 2026 — Snort rules and prominent vulnerabilities
blogs_talos·2026-01-13·CVSS 5.5
CVE-2026-20805 [MEDIUM] Microsoft Patch Tuesday for January 2026 — Snort rules and prominent vulnerabilities
Microsoft has released its monthly security update for January 2026, which includes 112 vulnerabilities affecting a range of products, including 8 that Microsoft marked as “critical”.
In this month's release, Microsoft observed one of the included “important” vulnerabilities, CVE-2026-20805, as being exploited in the wild. Out of 8 "critical" entries, 6 are remote code execution (RCE) vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows services and applications including Windows Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS), Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Office. The two remaining “critical” entries are elevation of privilege (EoP) vulnerabilities affecting Windows Graphic Component and Windows Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) Enclave.
CVE-2026-20822 is a critical elevation of p
Qualys
Microsoft and Adobe Patch Tuesday, January 2026 Security Update Review | Qualys
blogs_qualys·2026-01-13
Microsoft and Adobe Patch Tuesday, January 2026 Security Update Review | Qualys
#### Table of Contents
- Microsoft Patch Tuesday forJanuary2026
- Adobe Patches for January 2026
- Zero-day Vulnerabilities Patched inJanuaryPatch Tuesday Edition
- Critical Severity Vulnerabilities Patched inJanuaryPatch Tuesday Edition
- Other Microsoft Vulnerability Highlights
- Microsoft Release Summary
- Discover and Prioritize Vulnerabilities inVulnerability Management, Detection & Response (VMDR)
- Rapid Response with TruRisk Eliminate
- EVALUATE Vendor-Suggested Mitigation withPolicy Audit(PA)
- Qualys Monthly Webinar Series
Starting the year on a security-first note, Microsoft’s January 2026 Patch Tuesday resolves several vulnerabilities that could impact enterprise environments. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know.
## Microsoft Patch Tuesday for January 2026
Thi
Zscaler
Zscaler protects against 9 new vulnerabilities | 01-13-2026
blogs_zscaler·CVSS 5.5
[MEDIUM] Zscaler protects against 9 new vulnerabilities | 01-13-2026
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Wiz
CVE-2026-20871 Impact, Exploitability, and Mitigation Steps | Wiz
blogs_wiz·CVSS 7.8
CVE-2026-20871 [HIGH] CVE-2026-20871 Impact, Exploitability, and Mitigation Steps | Wiz
## CVE-2026-20871 :
vulnerability analysis and mitigation
Use after free in Desktop Windows Manager allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Source : NVD
## 7.8
Score
Published January 13, 2026
Severity HIGH
CNA Score 7.8
Has Public Exploit No
Has CISA KEV Exploit No
CISA KEV Release Date N/A
CISA KEV Due Date N/A
Exploitation Probability Percentile (EPSS) 12.3
Exploitation Probability (EPSS) N/A
Sources
NVD
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2026-01-13
Published