CVE-2026-41096Critical
Windows DNS Client Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Assessment
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Windows DNS allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS base score
- 9.8CVSS:3.1/
AV:N/ AC:L/ PR:N/ UI:N/ S:U/ C:H/ I:H/ A:H/ E:U/ RL:O/ RC:C - Impact
- Remote Code Execution
- EPSS, next 30 days
- 1.0%Higher than 60.6% of scored CVEs · FIRST model run 29 Sep 2026 · about EPSS
- Public exploit code
- No Nuclei template lists it
- Exploitability
- Exploitation Unlikely
- Publicly disclosed
- No
- Customer action
- Required: apply the update
- Component
- Microsoft Windows DNS
- Weakness
- CWE-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow
- Issued by
- Microsoft
- Published
- 12 May 2026 · May 2026
- Last revised
- 12 May 2026
Updates that fix it
8 KBs| KB | Type | Restart | Applies to | Other CVEs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KB5087420 | Security Update | Required | Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems | All CVEs in KB5087420 |
| KB5087423 | Security Hotpatch Update | Required | Windows Server 2025, Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) | All CVEs in KB5087423 |
| KB5087539 | Security Update | Required | Windows Server 2025, Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) | All CVEs in KB5087539 |
| KB5087541 | Security Update | Required | Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation) | All CVEs in KB5087541 |
| KB5089466 | Security Hotpatch Update | Required | Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems, Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems, Windows 11 Version 25H2 for ARM64-based Systems and 1 more | All CVEs in KB5089466 |
| KB5089548 | Security Update | Required | Windows 11 Version 26H1 for ARM64-based Systems, Windows 11 version 26H1 for x64-based Systems | All CVEs in KB5089548 |
| KB5089549 | Security Update | Required | Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems, Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems, Windows 11 Version 25H2 for ARM64-based Systems and 1 more | All CVEs in KB5089549 |
| KB5093998 | Security Update | Required | Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems | All CVEs in KB5093998 |
Affected products
Windows11 affected products
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 for ARM64-based Systems
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 for x64-based Systems
- Windows 11 Version 26H1 for ARM64-based Systems
- Windows 11 version 26H1 for x64-based Systems
- Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation)
- Windows Server 2025
- Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)