CVE-2026-97811: OpenSSH for Windows double free privilege elevation

CVE-2026-97811 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-10-13

OpenSSH for Windows, a secure remote access tool, contains a double free memory vulnerability that allows an authorized local user to elevate privileges to a higher level of system access. An attacker with existing user credentials on the system could exploit this flaw to gain administrative or system-level permissions.

Technologies: Microsoft OpenSSH for Windows, 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 2019, Microsoft Windows Server 2022, Microsoft Windows Server 2025. Vendors: Microsoft.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-97811 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-97811 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-97811?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 13 October 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
Microsoft OpenSSH for Windows.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-97811?
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-2026-97811 attacked?
It is attacked with local access.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-97811?
Check whether you run Microsoft OpenSSH for Windows, Microsoft Windows 10 1809, Microsoft Windows 10 21h2 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

A double free vulnerability exists in OpenSSH for Windows, triggered during memory management in an unspecified component. The vulnerability requires local network access and authentication credentials to exploit, allowing an authorized attacker to cause memory corruption and achieve privilege escalation on the affected system.

Affected products

  • Microsoft OpenSSH for Windows

Timeline

  • 2026-10-13: disclosed

References

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