Windows Error Reporting: Heap-based buffer overflow enables remote code execution

Summary

A heap-based buffer overflow in Windows Error Reporting, the crash reporting component of Windows, allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute code over the network. No privileges or user interaction are required according to the CVSS vector, and the attack complexity is low. Affected are supported and unsupported branches of Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server, so exposed or unpatched systems are at high risk.

Affected

• Windows 10 Version 1607: 10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9612
• Windows 10 Version 1809: 10.0.17763.0 to before 10.0.17763.9376
• Windows 10 Version 21H2: 10.0.19044.0 to before 10.0.19044.7807
• Windows 10 Version 22H2: 10.0.19045.0 to before 10.0.19045.7807
• Windows 11 Version 23H2: 10.0.22631.0 to before 10.0.22631.7652
• Windows 11 Version 24H2: 10.0.26100.0 to before 10.0.26100.9711
• Windows 11 Version 25H2: 10.0.26200.0 to before 10.0.26200.9711
• Windows 11 Version 26H1: 10.0.28000.0 to before 10.0.28000.3231
• Windows 11 Version 26H2: 10.0.26300.0 to before 10.0.26300.9711
• Windows Server 2012 (including Server Core): 6.2.9200.0 to before 6.2.9200.26434
• Windows Server 2012 R2 (including Server Core): 6.3.9600.0 to before 6.3.9600.23470
• Windows Server 2016: 10.0.14393.0 to before 10.0.14393.9612

Fixed in

• Install the October 2026 Windows security update for each affected branch (release date 13 October 2026).
• Minimum fixed builds per the CNA record: 10.0.14393.9612 (1607 and Server 2016), 10.0.17763.9376 (1809), 10.0.19045.7807 (22H2), 10.0.22631.7652 (23H2), 10.0.26100.9711 (24H2), 10.0.26200.9711 (25H2), 10.0.28000.3231 (26H1), 10.0.26300.9711 (26H2), 6.2.9200.26434 (Server 2012), 6.3.9600.23470 (Server 2012 R2).
• Verify the exact update package and KB numbers in the MSRC Security Update Guide before deployment.

Workaround

Unknown.

Exploitation

• Microsoft rates exploitability as Unproven and reports no public exploit code.
• CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable yes, technical impact total.
• No KEV listing or in-the-wild exploitation was found in the sources reviewed; this is not a confirmed absence.

Our recommendation

• Patch all affected Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server systems with the October 2026 update as a priority, starting with internet-facing hosts.
• Identify systems on unsupported Windows branches, which will not receive this fix, and isolate or upgrade them.
• Check whether Windows Error Reporting is reachable from untrusted networks and restrict access where possible.
• Monitor for unusual crashes or network traffic on affected hosts and re-check exploitation status within days.

Public exploits iAttack code is publicly available (PoC on GitHub, Metasploit or Exploit-DB).

PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.

Research sources

• Microsoft Security Update Guide: CVE-2026-97815 msrc.microsoft.com
• Vulners CVE list entry for CVE-2026-97815 vulners.com
• Vulners EUVD-2026-100417 vulners.com
• CVE Threatint entry for CVE-2026-97815 cve.threatint.com
• OffSeq Radar: CVE-2026-97815 radar.offseq.com
• Strix AI: CVE-2026-97815 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, 18:12.