Microsoft Windows DHCP Server: Remote code execution via use-after-free
Summary
A use-after-free flaw (CWE-416) in the Windows DHCP Server role allows an unauthenticated attacker on the network to execute code. Exploitation requires high attack complexity, and the CVSS score is 8.1. Since DHCP servers are often co-located with Active Directory in small organisations, a compromise could affect the wider domain.
Affected
- Windows Server 2016 and Server Core installation: 10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9688
- Windows Server 2019 and Server Core installation: 10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9487
- Windows Server 2022: 10.0.20348.0 to before 10.0.20348.5870 (listed by a third-party source, not confirmed against the CNA record)
- Windows Server 2025 and Server Core installation: 10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.33822 (listed by a third-party source, not confirmed against the CNA record)
- Windows 10, Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2: Unknown.
Fixed in
- Windows Server 2016: build 10.0.14393.9688 or later
- Windows Server 2019: build 10.0.17763.9487 or later
- Windows Server 2022 and Server 2025: verify the fixed builds on the MSRC page
- Install the November 2026 security update.
Workaround
- No vendor-published workaround is known for this CVE. Patching is the fix.
- Researchers recommend limiting exposure of DNS and DHCP services and restricting who can reach them (general guidance, not confirmed by the vendor).
Exploitation
- Exploited in the wild: Unknown. Not known for this CVE.
- Public proof of concept: none found.
- Publicly disclosed before the patch: no.
- Microsoft exploitability assessment: Unknown.
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, not automatable, total technical impact.
Our recommendation
- Identify all Windows DHCP servers and their build numbers.
- Apply the November 2026 cumulative update, and check the MSRC page for the exact fixed build for each version.
- Restrict DHCP access to the required network segments and authorised relay agents.
- Treat DHCP servers on domain controllers or small servers as high priority, as a compromise could reach Active Directory.
- Confirm that backups and monitoring are in place for DHCP servers.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday November 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Remote code execution – Windows DHCP Server
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5131085, KB5131090, KB5131080, KB5131077, KB5131291
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- MSRC Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-72998 msrc.microsoft.com
- CVE Record: CVE-2026-72998 www.cve.org
- Strix AI: CVE-2026-72998 (third-party mirror) www.strix.ai
- Microsoft November 2026 Patch Tuesday (NT Compatible) www.ntcompatible.com
- Rapid7: Patch Tuesday November 2026 www.rapid7.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, 01:34.
Original description (NVD)
Use after free in Windows DHCP Server 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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