Windows Media Player: Remote code execution through heap-based buffer overflow
Summary
A heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Media Player allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute code over the network. The CVSS 3.1 vector (9.8, critical) requires no privileges and no user interaction. Microsoft rates the maximum severity as Important, and no public exploit code is known.
Affected
- Windows 10 Version 1607 (10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9612)
- Windows 10 Version 1809 (10.0.17763.0 before 10.0.17763.9376)
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 (10.0.19044.0 before 10.0.19044.7807)
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 (10.0.19045.0 before 10.0.19045.7807, see Fixed)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 (10.0.22631.0 before 10.0.22631.7652)
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 (10.0.26100.0 before 10.0.26100.9711)
- Windows 11 Version 25H2 (10.0.26200.0 before 10.0.26200.9711)
- Windows 11 Version 26H1 (10.0.28000.0 before 10.0.28000.3231)
- Windows 11 Version 26H2 (10.0.26300.0 before 10.0.26300.9711)
- Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2, including Server Core installations
- Windows Server 2016 (10.0.14393.0 before 10.0.14393.9612)
Fixed in
- Windows 10 1607 / Server 2016: 10.0.14393.9612 or later
- Windows 10 1809: 10.0.17763.9376 or later
- Windows 10 21H2: 10.0.19044.7807 or later
- Windows 10 22H2: Unknown; the CNA record conflicts, verify the build at MSRC
- Windows 11 23H2: 10.0.22631.7652 or later
- Windows 11 24H2, 25H2, 26H2: 10.0.26100.9711, 10.0.26200.9711, 10.0.26300.9711 or later
- Windows 11 26H1: 10.0.28000.3231 or later
- Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2: 6.2.9200.26434 / 6.3.9600.23470 or later
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor workaround is documented in the sources.
- Interim option, not vendor-confirmed: restrict or disable Windows Media Player where it is not needed.
- Filter untrusted media files and links at mail and web gateways.
Exploitation
- Publicly disclosed: No
- Exploit maturity: Unproven (no public exploit code known)
- EPSS: below 1 percent
- In the wild: Unknown, no evidence of exploitation found; not confirmed absent
Our recommendation
- Identify all affected Windows hosts, including Windows 10 1607 and 1809 and Windows Server 2012 to 2016.
- Install the Microsoft security update for CVE-2026-96096 and verify build numbers at MSRC.
- Plan migration off Windows 10 1607, a legacy build that may stop receiving updates.
- Monitor for public exploit code or a CISA KEV listing, which would raise priority.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday October 2026)
- Severity (Microsoft)
- Important
- Impact
- Remote code execution – Windows Media Player
- Status on Patch Tuesday
- Neither exploited nor publicly disclosed
- Exploitability assessment
- Exploitation less likely
- Product family
- Windows, Windows ESU (Extended Security Updates)
- Updates (KB)
- KB5126835, KB5126836, KB5126868, KB5126651, KB5126657, KB5126655
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-96096 msrc.microsoft.com
- Vulners: CVE-2026-96096 (CNA data) vulners.com
- OpenCVE: CVE-2026-96096 app.opencve.io
- Strix: CVE-2026-96096 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 30 Oct 2026, 18:18.
Original description (NVD)
Heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Media Player 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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