CVE-2026-85903: Microsoft DNS Server pointer dereference remote code execution

CVE-2026-85903 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.8 · Published 2026-10-13

Microsoft DNS Server contains a vulnerability that allows an attacker to execute code remotely over the network without authentication. A DNS server is a critical system that translates internet addresses; exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the server and any network it protects.

Technologies: Microsoft DNS Server, Microsoft Windows 10 1607, Microsoft Windows 10 1809, Microsoft Windows 10 21h2, Microsoft Windows 10 22h2, Microsoft Windows 11 23h2, Microsoft Windows 11 24h2, Microsoft Windows 11 25h2, Microsoft Windows 11 26h1, Microsoft Windows 11 26h2, Microsoft Windows Server 2012, Microsoft Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Windows Server 2019, Microsoft Windows Server 2022, Microsoft Windows Server 2025. Vendors: Microsoft.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-85903 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-85903 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-85903?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 13 October 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Microsoft DNS Server.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-85903?
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-2026-85903 attacked?
It is attacked over the network, in a hosted service.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-85903?
Check whether you run Microsoft DNS Server, Microsoft Windows 10 1607, Microsoft Windows 10 1809 or one of the others listed. 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

An untrusted pointer dereference in Microsoft DNS Server allows unauthenticated remote code execution via network-based attack. The vulnerability requires no user interaction or prior authentication, making it exploitable directly over the network.

Affected products

  • Microsoft DNS Server

Timeline

  • 2026-10-13: disclosed

References

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