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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Obtain low-privilege VPN/domain credential
  2. Delivery
    Connect to exposed RRAS service
  3. Exploit
    Send malformed protocol negotiation packet
  4. Execution
    Trigger heap-based buffer overflow
  5. Persist
    Overwrite heap metadata to hijack execution
  6. Impact
    Execute arbitrary code as SYSTEM on Windows Server

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Heap buffer bounds checking
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Execution

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

The RRAS service must be enabled and running on the target Windows system - it is not enabled by default on most Windows editions but is common on Windows Server hosts deployed as VPN gateways or routers. The attacker must possess a low-privilege credential that allows initiating a connection to the RRAS endpoint (e.g., a valid VPN user account, domain credential, or equivalent low-trust network principal). The RRAS service port(s) must be reachable from the attacker's network position, which is typically true from the internet for internet-facing VPN concentrators. No user interaction is required. Exploitation is limited by the PR:L requirement: unauthenticated external attackers without any credential cannot directly trigger the flaw, distinguishing this from a fully unauthenticated network attack. Scope does not change (S:U), so post-exploitation impact is contained to the RRAS host itself rather than automatically propagating across systems.

Impact

CVSS 8.8 with AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H accurately reflects a high-severity network-exploitable flaw that demands only low-privilege credentials - the realistic concern for organizations running RRAS as a VPN concentrator, where any valid VPN account could serve as the required low-privilege principal. Attack complexity is low, meaning no race conditions or special environmental setup is needed beyond credential possession. The full triad impact (C:H/I:H/A:H) means a successful attack yields complete server compromise. No EPSS score is provided in the input, and the vulnerability is not listed in CISA KEV, so exploitation probability remains unquantified by public signal data. No public proof-of-concept has been identified. However, the extremely broad affected-version range (10+ distinct Windows releases spanning over a decade) substantially widens the potential attack surface across enterprise environments that have not applied patches. Risk priority is high for organizations exposing RRAS externally and should be treated as urgent patching given the low authentication bar and network accessibility.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who holds a low-privilege VPN or domain account on an organization using Windows Server as a RRAS-based VPN gateway connects to the RRAS listener and sends a specially crafted protocol message - such as a malformed PPTP or L2TP negotiation packet - that overflows a heap buffer in the RRAS service process. The overflow overwrites adjacent heap structures to redirect execution to attacker-controlled shellcode, granting the attacker SYSTEM-level code execution on the Windows Server host. No public proof-of-concept has been identified, but the low attack complexity (AC:L) means exploitation would not require advanced heap-grooming techniques once a trigger is discovered.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.9% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Sep 08, 2026

Remote code execution in Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) allows a low-privileged network attacker to fully compromise affected Windows systems via a heap-based buffer overflow in the RRAS service. The vulnerability spans an unusually wide range of releases - Windows Server 2012 through Server 2025 and Windows 10/11 - suggesting a systemic flaw in a shared RRAS code path. Microsoft has released patches through its Security Update Guide (MSRC); no public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch available: apply the Microsoft Security Update corresponding to your Windows build via Windows Update, WSUS, or SCCM. The fixed build versions are: Server 2012 → 6.2.9200.26349; Server 2012 R2 → 6.3.9600.23397; Server 2016 → 10.0.14393.9512; Server 2019/1809 → 10.0.17763.9245; Server 2022 → 10.0.20348.5622; Server 2025 → 10.0.26100.33438; Windows 10 21H2 → 10.0.19044.7725; Windows 10 22H2 → 10.0.19045.7725; Windows 11 23H2 → 10.0.22631.7582; Windows 11 24H2/25H2 → 10.0.26100.9445/10.0.26200.9445; Windows 11 26H1 → 10.0.28000.2954. Full advisory is at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-72959. As a compensating control where patching is immediately not possible, restrict network access to the RRAS service (TCP/UDP ports 1723, 1701, 500, 4500 depending on VPN protocol) via perimeter firewall rules or Windows Firewall, limiting exposure to trusted IP ranges only. Alternatively, disable the RRAS service entirely on hosts where it is not operationally required - this eliminates the attack surface with the trade-off of disabling VPN and routing functionality. Require strong, unique credentials for all RRAS/VPN accounts to raise the bar for the PR:L prerequisite.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26349
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9512
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26349
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438
Windows 11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.9445
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5622
Windows 10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0 <10.0.19045.7725
Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9245
Windows 11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.0 <10.0.22631.7582
Windows 11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0 <10.0.26200.9445
Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23397
Windows 11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0 <10.0.28000.2954
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33438
Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9512
Windows 10 Version 1607 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9512
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23397
Windows 10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0 <10.0.19044.7725

Affected Packages

euvd windows_10_version_1607 fix: 10.0.14393.9512
euvd windows_10_version_1809 fix: 10.0.17763.9245
euvd windows_10_version_21h2 fix: 10.0.19044.7725
euvd windows_10_version_22h2 fix: 10.0.19045.7725
euvd windows_11_version_23h2 fix: 10.0.22631.7582
euvd windows_11_version_24h2 fix: 10.0.26100.9445
euvd windows_11_version_25h2 fix: 10.0.26200.9445
euvd windows_11_version_26h1 fix: 10.0.28000.2954
euvd windows_server_2012 fix: 6.2.9200.26349
euvd windows_server_2012_r2 fix: 6.3.9600.23397
euvd windows_server_2012_r2_server_core_installation fix: 6.3.9600.23397
euvd windows_server_2012_server_core_installation fix: 6.2.9200.26349
euvd windows_server_2016 fix: 10.0.14393.9512
euvd windows_server_2016_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.14393.9512
euvd windows_server_2019 fix: 10.0.17763.9245
euvd windows_server_2019_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.17763.9245
euvd windows_server_2022 fix: 10.0.20348.5622
euvd windows_server_2025 fix: 10.0.26100.33438
euvd windows_server_2025_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.26100.33438

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 19 packages in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) is a core Windows Server component that provides VPN gateway, dial-up networking, and IP routing functionality. CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) identifies the root cause: attacker-supplied input exceeds the bounds of a heap-allocated buffer within the RRAS service process, corrupting adjacent heap metadata or data structures to redirect execution. The RRAS listener accepts network connections from remote clients - including VPN authentication negotiation and routing protocol traffic - creating a reachable attack surface over the network (AV:N). Because RRAS runs as a privileged Windows service, successful heap overflow exploitation yields code execution in a high-privilege process context, driving the C:H/I:H/A:H impact triad. The breadth of affected versions (Server 2012/6.2.9200 through Server 2025/10.0.26100) implies the vulnerable code is present in a long-standing, unrefactored RRAS code path shared across generations of Windows.

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 8.8 HIGH

Network-accessible RRAS service reachable with low-privilege credentials; heap overflow yields full process compromise with no user interaction or scope change.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).

CVSS VectorVendor: microsoft

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Sep 08, 2026 - 18:35 EUVD
CVE Published
Sep 08, 2026 - 18:20 nvd
HIGH 8.8

DescriptionCVE.org

Remote Code Execution in Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) allows attacker to gain an unauthorized access to victim's machine

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) remote code execution vulnerability affects Windows Server 2012 through 2025 and Windows 10/11, enabling network attackers to fully compromise affected systems. Organizations face critical exposure across their Windows infrastructure, with potential for unauthorized access, lateral movement, and data breach; the wide range of affected versions suggests extensive enterprise footprint at risk.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.9%
Top 43% exploitable
Prevalence
Medium
Windows Server VPN/routing deployments, not universally enabled
Threat Intel
1
1 sources
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Less Likely
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

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.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.9%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

45
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +44
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.

A heap overflow occurs when a program writes data beyond the bounds of a buffer allocated in the heap memory region.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

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