Windows DHCP Client Service Remote Code Execution
CVE-2026-44815 is a critical remote code execution vulnerability in the Windows DHCP Client caused by a stack-based buffer overflow. Microsoft identifies the flaw as CWE-121. The issue is triggered when a vulnerable Windows DHCP client processes crafted data returned by a malicious DHCP server. The provided content further indicates that the crafted data is not used unless the DhcpGetOriginalSubnetMask API is called, making that API path central to exploitation. Microsoft’s advisory states that an attacker can exploit the vulnerability by setting up a DHCP server on the network and responding to a DHCP client request with specially crafted DHCP information, leading to memory corruption and potential code execution in the DHCP Client service context.
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Impact, mitigation & remediation
What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.
Impact
What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.
Mitigation
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Remediation
Patch, then assume compromise.
Exploits
No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.
No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.
Recent activity
9 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
A critical stack-based buffer overflow in Windows DHCP Client that requires no credentials or user action and can lead to full system compromise via crafted network traffic.
A critical memory overflow vulnerability in a Windows automatic internet setup service that can be triggered with malicious network traffic against enterprise Windows 10 environments.
A critical stack-based buffer overflow remote code execution vulnerability in the Windows DHCP Client.
An unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability in the DHCP Client Service that requires no user interaction and affects systems where the service is present and active.
The version that knows your environment.
Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.
Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.