CVE-2026-61361: Windows DHCP Client Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Overview

Severity

High (CVSS 7)

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

Category

Remote Code Execution

Exploit Status

Not Exploited

Exploitation Likelihood

Unlikely

Patch Tuesday

2026-Aug

Released

2026-08-11

Description

Use after free in Windows DHCP Client allows an authorized attacker to execute code locally.

FAQ

According to the CVSS metric, the attack complexity is high (AC:H). What does this mean for this vulnerability? An attacker would need specific conditions to be in place (i.e. particular protocol settings, or configurations, etc.) before an attack could succeed, which reduces the likelihood of widespread or opportunistic exploitation. What privileges could be gained by an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability? An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain SYSTEM privileges.

Affected Products (8)

Windows

• Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)
• Windows 11 Version 25H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 25H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems
• Windows Server 2025
• Windows 11 version 26H1 for x64-based Systems
• Windows 11 Version 26H1 for ARM64-based Systems

Security Updates (5)

• 5120233
• 5120228
• 5121003
• 5120994
• 5121000

Acknowledgments

Milan Justel with Microsoft

Revision History

• 2026-08-11: Information published.