Authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel in Microsoft Windows and Windows Server - CVE-2026-85844

Vulnerability identifier: #VU165544

CSH Severity: High

CVSS v4: 9.3 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]

CVE-ID: CVE-2026-85844

CWE-ID: CWE-288

Exploitation vector: Remote access

Exploit availability: No public exploit available

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to escalate privileges to SYSTEM on an affected domain controller.

The vulnerability exists due to authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel in Windows Kerberos when processing Kerberos authentication traffic. A remote attacker can send specially crafted Kerberos authentication traffic and relay the resulting authentication to an affected domain controller to gain SYSTEM privileges.

Microsoft Windows
Windows Server

Install security update from vendor's website.

Microsoft Windows - addressed in versions 10 21H2 10.0.19044.7846, 10 22H2 10.0.19045.7846, 10 1607 10.0.14393.9688, 10 1809 10.0.17763.9487, 11 23H2 10.0.22631.7711, 11 24H2 10.0.26100.9911, 11 24H2 10.0.26100.9974, 11 25H2 10.0.26200.9911, 11 25H2 10.0.26200.9974, 11 26H1 10.0.28000.3501
Windows Server - addressed in versions 2012 R2 6.3.9600.23470, 2012 6.2.9200.26434, 2016 10.0.14393.9688, 2019 10.0.17763.9487, 2022 10.0.20348.5870, 2025 10.0.26100.33730, 2025 10.0.26100.33822

• https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2026-85844
• https://support.microsoft.com/help/5131085

• Multiple vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows