Description
Missing release of memory after effective lifetime in Windows DHCP Server allows an authorized attacker to deny service over a network.
Published: 2026-09-08
Score: 6.5 Medium
EPSS: 1.1% Low
KEV: No
Impact: Denial of Service
Action: Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

A memory management flaw in Windows DHCP Server releases previously allocated memory too late, allowing an authorized attacker to generate traffic that causes the server to consume resources and eventually become unavailable, thereby denying service to legitimate clients.

Affected Systems

Affected systems include Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1607 and 1809, Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2025, both standard and Server Core installations.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 6.5 indicates a moderate risk. The EPSS score is 1%, and the vulnerability is not listed in CISA KEV. Exploitation requires an authorized attacker with sufficient privileges to send crafted packets to the DHCP service, resulting in resource exhaustion and service disruption.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 9, 2026 at 20:38 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Apply the Microsoft security update that addresses CVE-2026-69497.
  • Restrict DHCP server access to trusted networks and limit administrative privileges to reduce the likelihood of an authorized attacker exploiting the flaw.
  • Monitor DHCP logs for abnormal traffic patterns and schedule regular availability checks to detect potential denial‑of‑service events.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 9, 2026 at 20:38 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 21:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Microsoft windows Server 2012 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)
Vendors & Products Microsoft windows Server 2012 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation)
Microsoft windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 21:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Missing release of memory after effective lifetime in Windows DHCP Server allows an authorized attacker to deny service over a network.
Title Windows DHCP Server Denial of Service Vulnerability
First Time appeared Microsoft
Microsoft windows 10 1607
Microsoft windows 10 1809
Microsoft windows Server 2012
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft windows Server 2016
Microsoft windows Server 2019
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 2025
Weaknesses CWE-401
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012_R2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Microsoft
Microsoft windows 10 1607
Microsoft windows 10 1809
Microsoft windows Server 2012
Microsoft windows Server 2012 R2
Microsoft windows Server 2016
Microsoft windows Server 2019
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 2025
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C'}

Subscriptions

Microsoft Windows 10 1607 Windows 10 1809 Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2012 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2012 R2 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2016 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 2019 (server Core Installation) Windows Server 2022 Windows Server 2025 Windows Server 2025 (server Core Installation)
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: microsoft

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-25T21:35:40.714Z

Reserved: 2026-08-03T21:07:24.909Z

Link: CVE-2026-69497

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-09-08T20:48:07.924Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-09-08T18:19:16.443

Modified: 2026-09-24T23:17:59.363

Link: CVE-2026-69497

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-10T20:59:36Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-401

    Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime