---
id: "CVE-2026-118148"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-118148"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-118148"]
title: "Active Directory Domain Services: improper authentication lets an attacker gain privileges"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.5
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Windows Server 2016", "fixed": ["10.0.14393.9688"], "affected": "< 10.0.14393.9688", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2019", "fixed": ["10.0.17763.9487"], "affected": "< 10.0.17763.9487", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2022", "fixed": ["10.0.20348.5870"], "affected": "< 10.0.20348.5870", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2025", "fixed": ["10.0.26100.33822"], "affected": "< 10.0.26100.33822", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: []
tags: ["active-directory", "domain-controller", "infrastructure", "windows", "windows-server"]
not_affected_if: ["cloud-only-identity", "no-active-directory"]
published_at: "2026-11-10T19:19:35+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-10T19:24:49+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-10T23:23:20+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-118148", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:24:49+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/cve-2026-118148", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T23:23:20+00:00", "cites": ["https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/cve-2026-118148", "https://www.lansweeper.com/blog/patch-tuesday/microsoft-patch-tuesday-november-2026/"]}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Active Directory Domain Services: improper authentication lets an attacker gain privileges

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-118148 (this .md is for agents)

Microsoft's November 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes an elevation-of-privilege flaw in Active Directory Domain Services (CVSS 7.5, high attack complexity, low privileges needed, network). Microsoft rates exploitation more likely; no exploitation or public disclosure was reported at release. Fix is the November 2026 cumulative update for each Windows version.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Windows Server 2016 affected < 10.0.14393.9688 fixed 10.0.14393.9688
- vendor:Windows Server 2019 affected < 10.0.17763.9487 fixed 10.0.17763.9487
- vendor:Windows Server 2022 affected < 10.0.20348.5870 fixed 10.0.20348.5870
- vendor:Windows Server 2025 affected < 10.0.26100.33822 fixed 10.0.26100.33822

## How to check

On each domain controller, run (Get-ItemProperty 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion').CurrentBuildNumber and UBR, or winver, and compare to the fixed builds: Server 2016 10.0.14393.9688, 2019 10.0.17763.9487, 2022 10.0.20348.5870, 2025 10.0.26100.33822. Lower means unpatched. Confirm in the MSRC page for the KB.

## Fix

Install the November 2026 Windows cumulative update on domain controllers: Server 2016 build 10.0.14393.9688, 2019 10.0.17763.9487, 2022 10.0.20348.5870, 2025 10.0.26100.33822. No workaround known; check MSRC for KB numbers.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10T19:24:49+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-118148
- 2026-11-10T23:23:20+00:00 analyst https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/cve-2026-118148 — MSRC page is JS-only and unreadable here; affected builds taken from Microsoft CNA data via NVD/OpenCVE. Nothing marked verified. Not exploited per Lansweeper (Microsoft: Exploitation More Likely). Note CWE 863 vs title 'improper authentication'.

## Documents

- [describes] NVD CVE-2026-118148 (Microsoft CNA data) https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/cve-2026-118148
- [mentions] Lansweeper: Patch Tuesday November 2026 https://www.lansweeper.com/blog/patch-tuesday/microsoft-patch-tuesday-november-2026/

## From the sources

Improper authentication in Active Directory Domain Services allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.

---

_Free to read, with fair use of about 60 pages a minute. For higher limits or API access: sales@infrastack.ai_