# CVE-2026-65681: Microsoft Windows iSCSI Target Service null pointer dereference

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-65681-microsoft-windows-iscsi-target-service-null-pointer-dereference  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-08-11. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-65681 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-08-11

Windows iSCSI Target Service is a Windows component that manages iSCSI storage connections. A null pointer dereference vulnerability allows a network attacker to crash the service and disrupt storage connectivity for affected systems without requiring authentication.

Technologies: [Microsoft Windows iSCSI Target Service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows-iscsi-target-service). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-65681 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-65681 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-65681?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 11 August 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Windows iSCSI Target Service <UNKNOWN>.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-65681?** 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-2026-65681 attacked?** It is attacked over the network.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-65681?** Check whether you run Microsoft Windows iSCSI Target Service at an affected version. 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 is a null pointer dereference vulnerability in Windows iSCSI Target Service that can be triggered over the network. The vulnerability requires no authentication and can be exploited by sending a specially crafted network request to the iSCSI service. An attacker can cause a denial of service by crashing the service, disrupting iSCSI storage access for dependent applications and systems. Patches are expected to be available from Microsoft.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Windows iSCSI Target Service <UNKNOWN>

## Timeline

- 2026-08-11: disclosed

## References

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-65681](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-65681)

## Related threats

- [Windows iSCSI Target Service buffer over-read](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-83684-buffer-over-read-in-windows-iscsi-target-service-allows-an)
- [Microsoft Windows iSCSI Target Service uncaught exception denial of service](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-69839-microsoft-windows-iscsi-target-service-uncaught-exception-denial)
- [Microsoft Windows iSCSI Target Service heap buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-65791-microsoft-windows-iscsi-target-service-heap-buffer-overflow)
- [Microsoft Windows iSCSI Target Service heap buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-65679-microsoft-windows-iscsi-target-service-heap-buffer-overflow)