Microsoft Windows: Remote code execution via heap overflow in Performance Counters
Summary
A heap-based buffer overflow in the Windows Performance Counters component allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network. The attack complexity is high and user interaction is required, which lowers the practical risk. Microsoft rates the impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability as high.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (before 10.0.19044.7846)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2: Unknown (build number not confirmed)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 (before 10.0.22631.7711)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2, 25H2, 26H1, 26H2: see MSRC for fixed builds
- Windows Server 2016 (before 10.0.14393.9688)
- Windows Server 2019 (before 10.0.17763.9487)
- Windows Server 2022 (before 10.0.20348.5870)
Fixed in
- Fixed builds per the vendor's Security Update Guide (November 2026 security update). Verify each build on MSRC before deployment.
- Build numbers for Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11 24H2/25H2/26H1/26H2 are not confirmed in the sources reviewed.
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor workaround or mitigation was found.
Exploitation
- No evidence of exploitation in the wild for this CVE in the sources reviewed.
- No public proof of concept found.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
Our recommendation
- Inventory endpoints and servers and identify affected builds, starting with older Windows 10 1607 and 1809 systems that may be out of servicing.
- Install the November 2026 security update on affected systems with high priority, after checking the fixed builds on the MSRC page.
- Restrict network access to affected systems where possible and limit exposure of servers.
- Monitor for exploitation indicators and re-check the advisory for updates.
- Review related Windows Performance Counters issues CVE-2026-95975 and CVE-2026-88220 in the same release.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Remote code execution – Windows Performance Counters
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5131291, KB5131085, KB5131096, KB5131090, KB5131087, KB5132061
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-113768 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE.org CVE Record: CVE-2026-113768 www.cve.org
- Talos: Microsoft Patch Tuesday for November 2026 blog.talosintelligence.com
- Action1: Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.action1.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 11 Nov 2026, 05:54.
Original description (NVD)
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Performance Counters allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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