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How CVE-2026-57096 Works
CVE-2026-57096 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability residing in the Windows Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS). RRAS is a core system service responsible for managing remote connections and providing critical VPN (Virtual Private Network) functionality in both large enterprise environments and for individual users. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow). A heap overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer located in the heap portion of memory than it was allocated to hold, typically using routines such as malloc(). This vulnerability arises from an unknown functionality within the RRAS component where a manipulation with an unknown input leads to the overflow. An authorized attacker can exploit this flaw locally to elevate privileges. The attack requires local access and is considered easy to exploit. Successful exploitation could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated SYSTEM-level privileges. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Windows versions, including Windows 10, Windows 11, and multiple Windows Server editions. The CVSS base score assigned by Microsoft is 7.8 (HIGH) with the vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. However, other sources like VulDB rate it as “very critical” with a meta-base score of 8.8. As of the current date, the technical details are unknown, and no public exploit is available. The CVE was published on July 14, 2026. Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for this vulnerability. Remediation involves applying security updates available via the Microsoft Update Catalog.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: ……. Windows
Version: …….. 10,11,Server
Vulnerability :…… Heap Overflow
Severity: ……. 7.8 HIGH
date: ………. 2026-07-14
Prediction: ……. 2026-07-21
What Undercode Say:
Analytics show the exploitability of this vulnerability is easy, yet no exploit is publicly available. The CTI Interest Score is currently 0.00, indicating low attacker interest. However, the exploit price is estimated between $25,000 and $100,000 USD. The following command can be used to check for the affected RRAS service status and its version on a local system:
Get-Service RemoteAccess | Select-Object Name, DisplayName, Status, StartType
To identify the exact build number of the operating system, which can be cross-referenced with the affected versions, use:
systeminfo | findstr /B /C:"OS Name" /C:"OS Version"
A simple script to check for the presence of the vulnerability by verifying the OS version against known affected builds is:
$OS = Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem $Version = $OS.Version $Build = $OS.BuildNumber Write-Host "OS Version: $Version, Build: $Build" Compare against known affected versions (e.g., 10.0.14393.0 to 10.0.14393.9339)
Exploit:
An exploit for this vulnerability would require local access and the ability to execute code on the target system. The attack would involve sending a specially crafted input to the RRAS service, triggering the heap overflow and allowing the attacker to overwrite critical memory structures. This could lead to arbitrary code execution with SYSTEM privileges. No public exploit code is available at this time.
Protection:
Microsoft has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Users are strongly advised to apply the latest cumulative updates for their respective Windows versions. Specific updates can be found in the Microsoft Knowledge Base s KB5099444, KB5099535, KB5099539, KB5101649, KB5099540, and KB5099538. As no workarounds have been identified, patching is the primary and most effective mitigation.
Impact:
Successful exploitation of CVE-2026-57096 could allow an authorized local attacker to elevate their privileges to SYSTEM level. This would grant the attacker complete control over the affected system, enabling them to install programs, view, change, or delete data, and create new accounts with full administrative rights. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as reflected in its CVSS score. Affected products include a wide range of Windows client and server operating systems.
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Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
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