# CVE-2026-69996: Microsoft Remote Desktop Client use-after-free RCE

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-69996-use-after-free-in-remote-desktop-client-allows-an-unauthorized  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-13. Updated: 2026-10-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-69996 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.5 · Published 2026-10-13

A use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft's Remote Desktop Client allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a victim's system over the network without any authentication. An attacker can exploit this flaw to gain complete control of the affected computer and access sensitive data or launch further attacks.

Technologies: [Microsoft Remote Desktop Client](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/remote-desktop-client). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-69996 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-69996 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-69996?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 13 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Remote Desktop Client.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-69996?** 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-2026-69996 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a hosted service.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-69996?** Check whether you run Microsoft Remote Desktop Client. 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

A use-after-free memory corruption vulnerability exists in the Remote Desktop Client that can be triggered via network traffic. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote code execution with a CVSS score of 7.5, indicating high severity with network-based attack vector and no user interaction required beyond receiving a malicious RDP connection.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Remote Desktop Client

## Timeline

- 2026-10-13: disclosed

## References

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-69996](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-69996)

## Related threats

- [Microsoft Remote Desktop Client race condition code execution](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-95964-concurrent-execution-using-shared-resource-with-improper)
- [Microsoft Remote Desktop Client out-of-bounds read](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-95908-out-of-bounds-read-in-remote-desktop-client-allows-an-authorized)
- [Microsoft Remote Desktop Client out-of-bounds read](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121678-out-of-bounds-read-in-remote-desktop-client-allows-an)
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- [Microsoft Remote Desktop Client double free memory corruption](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-119934-double-free-in-remote-desktop-client-allows-an-unauthorized)