CVE-2026-42987: CWE-416: Use After Free in Microsoft Windows Server 2012
Use after free in Windows Deployment Services allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
This vulnerability (CVE-2026-42987) involves a use-after-free condition in Windows Deployment Services on Windows Server 2012 (version 6.2.9200.0). Exploitation could allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 (Use After Free). Microsoft has published an official fix to remediate this issue.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution without requiring user interaction or privileges, potentially allowing full compromise of the affected system. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability as indicated by the CVSS vector (C:H/I:H/A:H). No known exploits are reported in the wild at this time.
Mitigation Recommendations
An official fix is available from Microsoft. Administrators should apply the security update provided in the Microsoft advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-42987 to remediate this vulnerability.
CVE-2026-42987: CWE-416: Use After Free in Microsoft Windows Server 2012
Description
Use after free in Windows Deployment Services allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
CVSS v3.1
Score 8.1high
Affected software
Microsoft
Windows Server 2012
Microsoft
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)
Microsoft
Windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)
Microsoft
Windows Server 2016
Microsoft
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)
Microsoft
Windows Server 2019
Microsoft
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)
Microsoft
Windows Server 2022
Microsoft
Windows Server 2025
Microsoft
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability (CVE-2026-42987) involves a use-after-free condition in Windows Deployment Services on Windows Server 2012 (version 6.2.9200.0). Exploitation could allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code remotely. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 (Use After Free). Microsoft has published an official fix to remediate this issue.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution without requiring user interaction or privileges, potentially allowing full compromise of the affected system. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability as indicated by the CVSS vector (C:H/I:H/A:H). No known exploits are reported in the wild at this time.
Mitigation Recommendations
An official fix is available from Microsoft. Administrators should apply the security update provided in the Microsoft advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-42987 to remediate this vulnerability.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- microsoft
- Date Reserved
- 2026-04-30T23:43:50.746Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- official-fix
- Vendor Advisory Urls
- [{"url":"https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-42987","vendor":"Microsoft"}]
Threat ID: 6a284ccb8dd33fbd8566495a
Added to database: 06/09/2026, 17:26:35 UTC
Last enriched: 08/14/2026, 13:23:23 UTC
Last updated: 09/13/2026, 22:01:34 UTC
Views: 159
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