Use-after-free in Microsoft Windows and Windows Server - CVE-2026-88244
Published: November 11, 2026
Vulnerability identifier: #VU165581
CSH Severity: Medium
CVSS v4: 7.7 [CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2026-88244
CWE-ID: CWE-416
Exploitation vector: Adjecent network
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a remote attacker on the local network to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
The vulnerability exists due to use-after-free in Windows Link Layer Topology Discovery Protocol when processing protocol traffic from an adjacent network. A remote attacker on the local network can trigger access to previously freed memory to execute arbitrary code.
Successful exploitation requires winning a race condition.
Affected software
Microsoft Windows
Windows Server
Windows Server
How to mitigate CVE-2026-88244
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 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
Windows Server - addressed in versions 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