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Windows DHCP Server EUVDEUVD-2026-99861

| CVE-2026-70066 HIGH
Use After Free (CWE-416)
2026-10-13 secure@microsoft.com GHSA-4gvp-6x32-jr5r
7.0
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: microsoft
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Attack ChainAIDerived

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

  1. Access
    Authenticate as low-privileged local user
  2. Delivery
    Interact with DHCP Server service
  3. Exploit
    Win use-after-free race condition
  4. Execution
    Corrupt freed memory and execute code
  5. Persist
    Gain SYSTEM privileges
  6. Impact
    Full compromise of DHCP host

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Memory lifecycle management
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Privilege Escalation

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

Exploitation Conditions

The target host must have the Windows DHCP Server role installed and running - this is not present on a default Windows Server or client OS, so the vulnerable attack surface exists only on provisioned DHCP servers. Exploitation requires local, authenticated access (PR:L) by an already-logged-on, low-privileged user; it is not remotely reachable over the network per the AV:L vector. The use-after-free is a timing/race condition (AC:H), so exploitation is non-deterministic and may require repeated attempts to hit the freed-memory window. No user interaction is required (UI:N). These factors - local access, a non-default server role, and a race-condition dependency - collectively limit realistic exploitation to a post-compromise privilege-escalation step on DHCP infrastructure.

Impact

This is a moderate-priority local privilege escalation, not a drop-everything emergency. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, base 7.0) requires an attacker to already have local, authenticated access (PR:L) and to win a use-after-free race condition (AC:H), which raises the practical bar. All real-world exploitation signals point to low urgency: there is no CISA KEV listing, no public exploit identified at time of analysis, and the CISA SSVC decision framework explicitly records Exploitation: none and Automatable: no - meaning CISA sees no evidence of exploitation and the flaw cannot be reliably automated/mass-exploited. The one signal that elevates concern is SSVC Technical Impact: total, consistent with the C:H/I:H/A:H impact: successful exploitation yields full control of the DHCP Server host. The signals are internally consistent (local vector + authorized attacker + high complexity + total impact all align with a hands-on-keyboard EoP). No conflicting data is present; EPSS was not provided in the input, so probabilistic exploitation likelihood could not be weighed. Net: treat as a routine-to-prioritized patch for Windows Servers running the DHCP role, especially on domain-attached infrastructure where SYSTEM on a DHCP host is a valuable lateral-movement foothold - but it is not a high-real-risk, wormable issue.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker who already holds a low-privileged foothold on a Windows Server that has the DHCP Server role installed triggers a use-after-free in the DHCP Server service to corrupt memory and execute code in the service's SYSTEM context. Because the flaw is a race condition (AC:H), the attacker may need multiple attempts to reliably hit the freed-memory window. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, so this would require original exploit development.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 14, 2026

Local privilege escalation in Windows DHCP Server lets an authenticated, low-privileged user trigger a use-after-free (CWE-416) in the DHCP Server service and obtain SYSTEM-level code execution on the host. It is rated CVSS 7.0 (AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning the attacker must already have local access and must win a non-deterministic race to reach the freed-memory window, so the flaw is not remotely reachable and is best treated as a post-compromise escalation step on provisioned DHCP infrastructure rather than an emergency. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, CISA SSVC records Exploitation: none and Automatable: no, and vendor patch is available per the Microsoft advisory.

RemediationAI

Patch available per vendor advisory: apply the Microsoft security update referenced in the MSRC update guide at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-70066, which moves affected systems to the fixed builds enumerated by EUVD (6.2.9200.26434 for Windows Server 2012, 6.3.9600.23470 for 2012 R2, 10.0.14393.9612 for Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 1607, 10.0.17763.9376 for Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10 1809, 10.0.20348.5761 for Windows Server 2022, and 10.0.26100.33650 for Windows Server 2025, including Server Core variants). Until patching is complete, the most effective compensating control is to remove the DHCP Server role from any host that does not strictly need it, which eliminates the attack surface entirely at the cost of breaking DHCP service for clients that rely on that server. Where the role is required, restrict interactive and remote logon rights so that only trusted administrators can reach a DHCP server locally, which directly addresses the PR:L prerequisite but does not protect against a compromised administrator account. Monitoring for unexpected dhcpserver service crashes or restarts can provide early warning of attempts to exploit the race condition; because exploitation requires local authenticated access to a non-default server role, these measures carry limited operational impact.

Affected VersionsENISA

Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
Windows Server 2012 R2 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23470
Windows 10 Version 1607 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612
Windows Server 2012 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26434
Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
Windows 10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0 <10.0.17763.9376
Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.0 <10.0.20348.5761
Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) 6.2.9200.0 <6.2.9200.26434
Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation) 6.3.9600.0 <6.3.9600.23470
Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33650
Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0 <10.0.26100.33650
Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.0 <10.0.14393.9612

Affected Packages

euvd windows_10_version_1607 fix: 10.0.14393.9612
euvd windows_10_version_1809 fix: 10.0.17763.9376
euvd windows_server_2012 fix: 6.2.9200.26434
euvd windows_server_2012_r2 fix: 6.3.9600.23470
euvd windows_server_2012_r2_server_core_installation fix: 6.3.9600.23470
euvd windows_server_2012_server_core_installation fix: 6.2.9200.26434
euvd windows_server_2016 fix: 10.0.14393.9612
euvd windows_server_2016_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.14393.9612
euvd windows_server_2019 fix: 10.0.17763.9376
euvd windows_server_2019_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.17763.9376
euvd windows_server_2022 fix: 10.0.20348.5761
euvd windows_server_2025 fix: 10.0.26100.33650
euvd windows_server_2025_server_core_installation fix: 10.0.26100.33650

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 root cause is CWE-416 (Use After Free) in the Windows DHCP Server service, the component that answers DHCP/BOOTP requests and runs with high privileges on hosts where the DHCP Server role is installed. A local attacker who can already execute code at low privilege (PR:L, no user interaction required) can race the service so that it dereferences a memory region that has already been freed; the high attack complexity (AC:H) reflects that the timing is non-deterministic and may require repeated attempts, while C:H/I:H/A:H and S:U indicate full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact within the affected host's security scope. DHCP Server is an optional role that is absent from default Windows Server and client installations, so the vulnerable code path exists only on machines explicitly provisioned as DHCP servers. Microsoft assigned the flaw to itself (secure@microsoft.com), ENISA tracks it as EUVD-2026-99861, and CISA's SSVC decision framework rates technical impact as total with exploitation none and automatable no, consistent with a local, race-dependent, non-wormable issue.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (microsoft) PRIMARY 7.0 HIGH
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 7.0 HIGH

Local authorized attacker (AV:L/PR:L) exploiting a use-after-free race condition (AC:H) in a service running as SYSTEM yields total host impact (C:H/I:H/A:H).

3.1 AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:H/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
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Oct 13, 2026 - 20:20 EUVD
CVE Published
Oct 13, 2026 - 19:19 cve.org
HIGH 7.0

DescriptionCVE.org

Use after free in Windows DHCP Server allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

A local privilege escalation vulnerability in Microsoft's Windows DHCP Server role allows an authenticated low-privileged attacker to gain SYSTEM-level control over affected servers. While exploitation requires local access and winning a race condition, a successful compromise could disrupt DHCP services and provide a foothold for broader network attacks. Organizations running Windows DHCP Server on critical infrastructure should prioritize patching to prevent post-compromise escalation.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 82% exploitable
Prevalence
High
DHCP Server role is common on enterprise Windows Server AD infrastructure
Vendor Status
Publicly Disclosed:No
Exploited:No
Latest Software Release:Exploitation Unlikely
Data Quality
4 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 0.3%
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
Defer
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

35
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +35
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to access memory through a pointer after that memory has been deallocated.

Memory corruption occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions or accesses memory in unintended ways, violating the integrity of the process's address space.

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