Microsoft Windows CredSSP: Remote code execution due to double free
Summary
A double free vulnerability (CWE-415) in the Windows CredSSP component allows a remote attacker to execute code on affected Windows systems. CredSSP handles authentication for remote sessions, such as Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication and remote management. The CVE description states that no privileges or user interaction are required, but the attack complexity is rated high.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607: 10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows 10 Version 1809: 10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9487
- Windows 10 Version 21H2: 10.0.19044.0 to before 10.0.19044.7846
- Windows 10 Version 22H2: 10.0.19045.0 to before 10.0.19045.7846
- Windows 11 Version 23H2: 10.0.22631.0 to before 10.0.22631.7711
- Windows 11 Version 24H2: 10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.9974
- Windows 11 Version 25H2: 10.0.26200.0 to before 10.0.26200.9974
- Windows 11 Version 26H1: 10.0.28000.0 to before 10.0.28000.3501
- Windows 11 Version 26H2: 10.0.26300.0 to before 10.0.26300.9974
- Windows Server 2016 (including Server Core): 10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows Server 2019 (including Server Core): 10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9487
- Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.0 to before 10.0.20348.5870
Fixed in
- Install the November 2026 security update (Patch Tuesday, 10 November 2026) or a later cumulative update for the affected Windows version.
- Verify the exact fixed builds and KB numbers on the MSRC Security Update Guide before deployment.
Workaround
Unknown. No workaround specific to this CVE has been published. Do not use the Encryption Oracle Remediation settings from CVE-2018-0886 as a mitigation, because they disable the protection from that update.
Exploitation
- Senserva lists this CVE as not exploited.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- No public proof of concept or exploit was found. This does not confirm that none exists.
Our recommendation
- Check which Windows servers and clients have RDP or WinRM enabled and whether they are reachable from the internet or from untrusted network segments.
- Restrict RDP and WinRM to internal networks or VPN access.
- Apply the November 2026 cumulative update, starting with internet-reachable and remote-management systems.
- Monitor for unusual authentication or remote session activity.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Critical
- Impact
- Remote code execution – Windows Cred SSProvider Protocol
- 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
- MSRC Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-119962 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2026-119962 www.cve.org
- Senserva KB 5131096 senserva.com
- Cybersecurity News: November 2026 Patch Tuesday cybersecuritynews.com
- Qualys: Microsoft Patch Tuesday November 2026 review blog.qualys.com
- Microsoft Q&A: Hyper-V remote access fails after CredSSP patch learn.microsoft.com
- Strix: CVE-2026-119962 www.strix.ai
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, 01:37.
Original description (NVD)
Double free in Windows Cred SSProvider Protocol 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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