Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessObtain low-privileged local session on DNS server
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ExploitInvoke operation lacking authorization check
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ImpactTamper with DNS records or configuration
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Authorization checks on every request
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires the target host to be running the Windows DNS Server role and the attacker to already possess a low-privileged authenticated local session on that server (PR:L, AV:L) - this is not remotely reachable. Limiting factors: the attacker must have a prior foothold and local access; there is no remote network vector, no confidentiality or availability impact (only integrity/tampering), and SSVC rates the issue as not automatable with only partial technical impact. Affected builds are specific Windows Server releases (2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025, and Windows 10 1607/1809) below the patched build numbers listed in the EUVD advisory; patched builds are not vulnerable. |
| Impact | This is a moderate-severity, lower-priority issue despite affecting a widely-deployed Microsoft component. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5 reflects a local attack vector (AV:L), low complexity (AC:L), and a requirement for existing low-level privileges (PR:L) with no user interaction; impact is confined to integrity (I:H) with no confidentiality or availability effect (C:N/A:N). All signals point the same direction and are consistent: CISA's SSVC framework rates Exploitation as 'none', Automatable as 'no', and Technical Impact as only 'partial', which aligns with the local, authenticated, integrity-only CVSS profile. There is no CISA KEV listing and no public proof-of-concept, so this is not under active exploitation. The one point to verify is the tagging: the input Tag says 'Authentication Bypass', but CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) and the description both describe missing authorization enforcement rather than a bypass of authentication - these are distinct weakness classes. Net assessment: a genuine but not urgent fix - a high-CVSS-adjacent but real-world-low-risk issue, best handled through normal Patch Tuesday cycles rather than emergency response, because it requires a foothold on the server and only yields tampering. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker who already has a low-privileged authenticated session on a Windows Server running the DNS Server role abuses a missing authorization check to perform an action they should not be permitted to, tampering with DNS configuration or records. Because the vector is local (AV:L) and requires existing privileges (PR:L), this is a privilege-abuse/integrity scenario rather than remote compromise. No public exploit code has been identified at the time of analysis. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Oct 13, 2026
Tampering with Windows DNS Server configuration or data is possible for an authenticated local attacker on affected Windows Server and Windows 10 builds because of missing authorization checks (CWE-862). Affected systems must be running the DNS Server role, and exploitation only compromises integrity (no confidentiality or availability impact). Microsoft has released vendor patches; CISA SSVC rates exploitation as none, the issue is not automatable, and no public exploit is identified at time of analysis.
RemediationAI
Apply the Microsoft security update for CVE-2026-96926. Vendor-released patch: Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.26434, Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3.9600.23470, Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.9612, Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.9376, Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.5761, Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.33650, Windows 10 Version 1607 10.0.14393.9612, and Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.9376. See https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96926. Because exploitation requires a local low-privileged foothold, compensating controls include removing the DNS Server role where it is not required (may break name resolution for that host), restricting interactive logon and local administrator group membership on DNS servers (may reduce operational flexibility for administrators), and monitoring DNS configuration or zone changes for unauthorized tampering. No public exploit is identified, and SSVC rates the issue as not automatable, so patching can follow normal risk-based prioritization for local privilege or tampering issues.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 13 packages in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
The affected technology is the Microsoft Windows DNS Server role, a core network service in Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025, plus Windows 10 1607 and 1809. The root cause is CWE-862 Missing Authorization: a local user who is already authorized at a low privilege level can invoke a DNS Server operation that should require higher privileges, leading to tampering with high integrity impact (I:H). The CVSS vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N confirms local access, low privileges, no user interaction, and no scope change; there is no remote network vector. The SSVC assessment notes exploitation:none, automatable:no, and partial technical impact, and the Authentication Bypass tag aligns with a missing access-control check rather than remote code execution.
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Local vector and existing low privileges are needed to reach the DNS operation (AV:L/PR:L); missing authorization enables tampering only, so I:H with C:N/A:N.
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
Missing authorization in DNS Server allows an authorized attacker to perform tampering locally.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
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EUVD-2026-100259
GHSA-cr3r-5924-m6r4
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
Exploit-DB