Remote Desktop Client: Use-after-free allows remote code execution
Summary
A use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in the Remote Desktop Client component of Windows allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over the network. Exploitation is rated high complexity and requires user interaction, for example connecting to or opening attacker-controlled content. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.5 (High). Our research found no public proof of concept and no reported exploitation in the wild.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (below 10.0.14393.9612)
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (below 10.0.17763.9376)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (below 10.0.19044.7807)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (below 10.0.19045.7807)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 (below 10.0.22631.7652)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 (below 10.0.26100.9711)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 and 26H2 (below 10.0.26200.9711 and 10.0.26300.9711)
- Windows 11 Version 26H1 (below 10.0.28000.3231)
- Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 (below 6.2.9200.26434 and 6.3.9600.23470)
- Windows Server 2016 (below 10.0.14393.9612)
Fixed in
- Install the October 2026 security update for the affected Windows version (builds listed above or later).
- KB numbers: Unknown for Windows 10 1607 and Server 2016; confirm on the MSRC page.
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor workaround has been identified; patching is the fix.
Exploitation
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- Not listed in CISA KEV (per OpenCVE).
- EPSS below 1%.
- No public proof of concept found in our searches; absence of evidence is not proof.
- No exploitation in the wild reported.
Our recommendation
- Inventory Windows 10 1607, Server 2016 and other older Windows hosts, including their support status.
- Deploy the October 2026 Microsoft update to all affected systems, prioritizing workstations and laptops that connect to external or third-party systems (helpdesk, MSP, remote support).
- Plan replacement or isolation for devices outside vendor support, and document any accepted risk.
- Monitor CISA KEV, the MSRC update guide and public exploit sources for changes; escalate if exploitation is reported.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday October 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Remote code execution – Remote Desktop Client
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5126651, KB5126655, KB5126657, KB5126646, KB5127648, KB5126653
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-69995 msrc.microsoft.com
- Vulners: CVE record CVELIST:CVE-2026-69995 vulners.com
- Vulners: CVE-2026-69995 (EPSS) vulners.com
- OpenCVE: CVE-2026-69995 app.opencve.io
- Strix: CVE-2026-69995 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 2 Nov 2026, 19:16.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Remote Desktop Client 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.
Affected? We can help.
We check whether your systems are affected, install updates and close the gap – continuously with the System Health Checker if you wish.