CVE-2026-41096: Microsoft Windows 11 version 23H2 · Heap-based Buffer Overflow
Affects Microsoft Windows 11 version 23H2Source CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical : upgrade to 10.0.22631.7079 as a priority.
Data as of 30 Oct 2026, 06:59 UTC
- EPSS
- 2.6% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 85% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 10.0.22631.7079, 10.0.22631.7219, 10.0.26100.8457 +4
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:CExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 12 May 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: evidence found.
Public exploit code: GitHub proofs of concept
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), GitHub proofs of concept, the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 29 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| MicrosoftWindows 11 version 23H2 | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| MicrosoftWindows 11 Version 23H2 | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| MicrosoftWindows 11 Version 24H2 | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| MicrosoftWindows 11 Version 25H2 | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| MicrosoftWindows 11 version 26H1 | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| MicrosoftWindows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation) | Affected
| Fixed in
|
AI-suggested
An official patch is available from Microsoft and should be applied immediately to affected systems. The vendor advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-41096 provides detailed update instructions. No additional mitigations are specified beyond applying the official fix.
Description
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Windows DNS allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.