Adjacent-network code execution via exposed answer file
Published Jan 13, 2026 · Updated Jan 13, 2026
Improper access control in Microsoft Windows Deployment Services allows adjacent-network attackers to execute code through hands-free deployment. The native WDS workflow exposes a referenced Unattend.xml from the RemoteInstall share over an unauthenticated RPC channel, allowing same-network interception of credentials and deployment instructions. Exploitation requires native WDS hands-free deployment with an exposed answer file; Microsoft Configuration Manager deployments are not affected.
Summary
What happened
Improper access control in Microsoft Windows Deployment Services allows adjacent-network attackers to execute code through hands-free deployment. The native WDS workflow exposes a referenced Unattend.xml from the RemoteInstall share over an unauthenticated RPC channel, allowing same-network interception of credentials and deployment instructions. Exploitation requires native WDS hands-free deployment with an exposed answer file; Microsoft Configuration Manager deployments are not affected.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-0386
- Published
- Jan 13, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 13, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Windows Server 2019
- Classifications
- CWE-284, T1040
- Attack vector
- adjacent
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 13, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.8276
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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