CVE-2026-41096: Windows DNS Client Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Severity: critical (CVSS 9.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 2.7% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-05-12 · updated 2026-08-10
Weakness: CWE-122

Description

Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Windows DNS allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

Affected products

Microsoft Windows 11: before 10.0.22631.7079 — fixed in 10.0.22631.7079
Microsoft Windows 11: before 10.0.26100.8390 — fixed in 10.0.26100.8390
Microsoft Windows 11 25H2: before 10.0.26200.8390 — fixed in 10.0.26200.8390
Microsoft Windows 11 version 26H1: before 10.0.28000.2113 — fixed in 10.0.28000.2113
Microsoft Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation): before 10.0.25398.2330 — fixed in 10.0.25398.2330
Microsoft Windows Server 2025: before 10.0.26100.32772 — fixed in 10.0.26100.32772
Microsoft Windows 11: from 10.0.22631.0 before 10.0.22631.7079 — fixed in 10.0.22631.7079
Microsoft Windows 11: from 10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.8457 — fixed in 10.0.26100.8457
Microsoft Windows 11 25H2: from 10.0.26200.0 before 10.0.26200.8457 — fixed in 10.0.26200.8457
Microsoft Windows 11 version 26H1: from 10.0.28000.0 before 10.0.28000.2113 — fixed in 10.0.28000.2113
Microsoft Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation): from 10.0.25398.0 before 10.0.25398.2330 — fixed in 10.0.25398.2330
Microsoft Windows Server 2025: from 10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.32860 — fixed in 10.0.26100.32860

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Microsoft Windows 11 10.0.22631.7079; Microsoft Windows 11 10.0.26100.8390; Microsoft Windows 11 25H2 10.0.26200.8390; Microsoft Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.2113; Microsoft Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation) 10.0.25398.2330; Microsoft Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.32772; Microsoft Windows 11 10.0.22631.7079; Microsoft Windows 11 10.0.26100.8457; Microsoft Windows 11 25H2 10.0.26200.8457; Microsoft Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.2113; Microsoft Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation) 10.0.25398.2330; Microsoft Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.32860. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-41096

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