---
id: "CVE-2026-72998"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-72998"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-72998"]
title: "Windows DHCP Server: use-after-free lets a network attacker run code"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.1
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Windows Server 2016", "fixed": ["10.0.14393.9688"], "affected": ">= 10.0.14393.0, < 10.0.14393.9688", "ecosystem": "microsoft"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2019", "fixed": ["10.0.17763.9487"], "affected": ">= 10.0.17763.0, < 10.0.17763.9487", "ecosystem": "microsoft"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2022", "fixed": ["10.0.20348.5870"], "affected": ">= 10.0.20348.0, < 10.0.20348.5870", "ecosystem": "microsoft"}, {"name": "Windows Server 2025", "fixed": ["10.0.26100.33822"], "affected": ">= 10.0.26100.0, < 10.0.26100.33822", "ecosystem": "microsoft"}]
ecosystems: []
tags: ["dhcp", "infrastructure", "use-after-free", "windows", "windows-server"]
not_affected_if: ["dhcp-client-only", "dhcp-role-not-installed", "dhcp-served-by-non-windows"]
published_at: "2026-11-10T19:21:21+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-10T19:25:17+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-10T21:12:54+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72998", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T19:25:17+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": "https://radar.offseq.com/threat/cve-2026-72998-cwe-416-use-after-free-in-microsoft-windows-server-2016-1038f62dafe76672", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-10T21:12:54+00:00", "cites": ["https://radar.offseq.com/threat/cve-2026-72998-cwe-416-use-after-free-in-microsoft-windows-server-2016-1038f62dafe76672", "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72998"]}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# Windows DHCP Server: use-after-free lets a network attacker run code

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-72998 (this .md is for agents)

A memory-handling bug in the Windows DHCP Server role lets an unauthorized attacker on the network trigger a use-after-free and run code on the server. The sources give a CVSS score of 8.1 and do not describe a public exploit.

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

## Affected

- microsoft:Windows Server 2016 affected >= 10.0.14393.0, < 10.0.14393.9688 fixed 10.0.14393.9688
- microsoft:Windows Server 2019 affected >= 10.0.17763.0, < 10.0.17763.9487 fixed 10.0.17763.9487
- microsoft:Windows Server 2022 affected >= 10.0.20348.0, < 10.0.20348.5870 fixed 10.0.20348.5870
- microsoft:Windows Server 2025 affected >= 10.0.26100.0, < 10.0.26100.33822 fixed 10.0.26100.33822

## How to check

On each Windows Server, run Get-WindowsFeature DHCP; if Installed, compare the OS build (winver or (Get-ItemProperty 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion').UBR with the major build) against the fixed builds: 2016 < 10.0.14393.9688, 2019 < 10.0.17763.9487, 2022 < 10.0.20348.5870, 2025 < 10.0.26100.33822 means vulnerable. Server Core is affected too.

## Fix

Install the November 2026 Microsoft cumulative update that brings Windows Server to: 2016 10.0.14393.9688, 2019 10.0.17763.9487, 2022 10.0.20348.5870, 2025 10.0.26100.33822 (KB numbers not confirmed; see MSRC CVE-2026-72998).

## Timeline

- 2026-11-10T19:25:17+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72998
- 2026-11-10T21:12:54+00:00 analyst https://radar.offseq.com/threat/cve-2026-72998-cwe-416-use-after-free-in-microsoft-windows-server-2016-1038f62dafe76672 — Builds/fixed versions from OffSeq mirror of Microsoft's CNA CVE record; MSRC page is JS-only and unreadable by web-cli, so nothing marked verified. Role requirement inferred from description (DHCP Server). No exploitation or PoC reported.

## Documents

- [describes] OffSeq: CVE-2026-72998 (mirrors Microsoft CNA CVE record) https://radar.offseq.com/threat/cve-2026-72998-cwe-416-use-after-free-in-microsoft-windows-server-2016-1038f62dafe76672
- [mentions] NVD CVE-2026-72998 https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72998

## From the sources

Use after free in Windows DHCP Server allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

---

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