CVE-2026-41096: Microsoft Windows DNS heap overflow remote code execution

CVE-2026-41096 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2026-05-12

A critical vulnerability has been identified in the Microsoft Windows DNS service, which is responsible for translating human-readable domain names into IP addresses. An attacker can exploit this flaw remotely without any user interaction or login credentials. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to take complete control of the server, potentially leading to data theft, network-wide disruption, or the deployment of ransomware.

Technologies: Microsoft Windows DNS Server. Vendors: Microsoft.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-41096 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-41096 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-41096?
Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 12 May 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Microsoft Windows DNS Server.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-41096?
No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.
How is CVE-2026-41096 attacked?
It is attacked over the network, in an operating system.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-41096?
Check whether you run Microsoft Windows DNS Server. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

Technical details

This vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) residing within the Microsoft Windows DNS Server component. The flaw is triggered when the service improperly handles specially crafted DNS requests sent over the network. Because the vulnerability is reachable via the network without authentication (AV:N/PR:N) and requires no user interaction (UI:N), it is considered 'wormable' in many environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could run processes with SYSTEM privileges, leading to full machine compromise. Microsoft has released security updates to address this issue; administrators should prioritize patching DNS-capable Windows Server instances.

Affected products

  • Microsoft Windows DNS Server

Timeline

  • 2026-05-12: advisory: Initial advisory published by Microsoft and NVD.

References

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