CVE-2026-69858Network attack vector

Unauthenticated code execution via use-after-free

Published Sep 8, 2026 · Updated Sep 10, 2026

Use-after-free in Microsoft Windows DNS Server allows remote attackers to execute code over a network on affected Windows Server builds. Microsoft identifies Windows DNS as the affected component but has not published the freed object's lifecycle, the request path that retains it, or the malformed DNS input that triggers its reuse. No authentication or user interaction is required, but successful exploitation has high complexity and grants code execution in the DNS server's security context.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.70%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Microsoft Windows DNS Server allows remote attackers to execute code over a network on affected Windows Server builds. Microsoft identifies Windows DNS as the affected component but has not published the freed object's lifecycle, the request path that retains it, or the malformed DNS input that triggers its reuse. No authentication or user interaction is required, but successful exploitation has high complexity and grants code execution in the DNS server's security context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-69858
Published
Sep 8, 2026
Updated
Sep 10, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)
Classifications
CWE-416, T1210
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 10, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)version=10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438
Microsoft · Windows Server 2022version=10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5622
Microsoft · Windows Server 2025version=10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438

Published CVSS scores

8.1MicrosoftCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1210Exploitation of Remote Services

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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