CVE-2026-62761: Windows DHCP Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Overview

Severity

High (CVSS 7.8)

CVSS Vector

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

Category

Elevation of Privilege

Exploit Status

Not Exploited

Exploitation Likelihood

Less Likely

Patch Tuesday

2026-Aug

Released

2026-08-11

Last Updated

2026-09-08

EPSS Score

0.37% (percentile: 28.3%)

Description

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Windows DHCP Server allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

FAQ

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 (12)

Windows

• Windows Server 2019
• Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)
• Windows Server 2022
• Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation)
• Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation)
• Windows Server 2025
• Windows Server 2016
• Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)

ESU

• Windows Server 2012
• Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)
• Windows Server 2012 R2
• Windows Server 2012 R2 (Server Core installation)

Security Updates (8)

• 5120238
• 5120242
• 5120229
• 5120233
• 5120228
• 5120418
• 5120386
• 5120385

Acknowledgments

WARP and ACS teams at Microsoft

Revision History

• 2026-08-11: Information published.
• 2026-09-08: Updated software table to remove clients versions because this vulnerability only impacts Windows Servers. This is an informational change only.