Microsoft Windows up to Server 2025 DNS Server null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
9.2$5k-$25k1.21-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as very critical has been found in Microsoft Windows. This affects an unknown function of the component DNS Server. The manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-88116. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available. A patch should be applied to remediate this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Microsoft Windows. Affected is an unknown part of the component DNS Server. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Untrusted pointer dereference in DNS Server allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

The advisory is available at msrc.microsoft.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-88116 since 09/09/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not available. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/14/2026).

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem.

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.2

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 8.8
CNA Vector (microsoft): 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Timelineinfo

09/09/2026 CVE reserved
10/14/2026 +35 days Advisory disclosed
10/14/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/14/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: microsoft.com
Product: microsoft.com

Advisory: msrc.microsoft.com
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-88116 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-88116
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-419394
scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161215

Entryinfo

Created: 10/14/2026 09:55
Changes: 10/14/2026 09:55 (63)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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