CVE-2026-69499

Windows Imaging Component Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

No known exploitation. EPSS puts it in the 56th percentile. No fix published yet.

CVSS 3.18.8High EPSS percentile56th0.8% chance in 30 days CISA KEVNot listedNo confirmed exploitation
No public exploit known FixNone yetNo fix or workaround published

Published 2026-09-08Updated 2026-09-24Sources: CVE.org, NVD

NVD CVE.org

What to do

No fixed build or workaround is published yet. Limit exposure and watch for a patch.

Steps

Written by AI from the record

Check the exact Windows edition and build number on every affected PC and server.
Compare your build to the fixed builds listed for your OS in Microsoft’s update guidance for CVE-2026-69499: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-69499
Install the Microsoft updates that move you to at least one of the fixed versions for your specific Windows version.
Reboot and confirm the build number after patching.
If any device can’t be updated immediately, restrict network access to that device until it can be patched.

Vendor advisory Usually a quick update

Check it yourselfA free OpenVAS check exists for this CVE. Run it against your hosts.Is your organisation exposed?Request an assessment to establish which checks fit your systems.

What it is

From the CVE record

Integer overflow or wraparound in Windows Imaging Component allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

In plain language

Written by AI from the record

This is a serious Windows flaw that can let an attacker run code over the network on affected systems, so typical small businesses running these Windows versions should act by installing Microsoft’s fixed updates.

CVE-2026-69499 is a remote code execution vulnerability in the Windows Imaging Component caused by an integer overflow/wraparound condition that can be triggered by network-delivered input, allowing an unauthorized attacker to execute code.

If you're affected

Full system compromise
Malware/Ransomware risk
Business disruption

What is it

Think of Windows Imaging Component as part of Windows that helps process image-related content. This flaw is like a “math mistake” inside that component: under the right input coming over the network, it can be used to run attacker code on your machine instead of safely handling the content. If it works against your setup, the attacker can take over the computer.

Who is affected

This matters if you run Windows 10, Windows 11, or any of the listed Windows Server versions (2012/2012 R2/2016/2019/2022/2025). It’s designed as a remote risk, meaning an attacker doesn’t need to be sitting at your machine to trigger it. The reachability details (exact conditions) aren’t fully spelled out in the provided findings, so the safe assumption is to patch all exposed systems in-scope before relying on network protections.

How urgent is it

Treat this as urgent because it’s a remote code execution issue: if an attacker can reach the vulnerable component and trigger the flaw, they can potentially run code on your system. Even though no public exploit code or KEV listing was provided in the findings, the impact is high and Microsoft has already released fixed versions for the affected Windows releases.

What to do — in detail

Identify exposure (what to verify)

For each device in scope, confirm:
- The OS edition (Windows 10 / Windows 11 / Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2025)
- The exact Windows build number.
Use the Microsoft update guidance for CVE-2026-69499 to match your build to the fixed build numbers.

Determine the correct fixed target (based on your OS)

Install an update that moves you to at least one of the fixed builds below (choose the one that matches your OS line):
- Windows 10 fixed in:
  - 10.0.14393.9512
  - 10.0.17763.9245
  - 10.0.19044.7725
  - 10.0.19045.7725
- Windows 11 fixed in:
  - 10.0.22631.7582
  - 10.0.26100.9445
  - 10.0.26200.9445
  - 10.0.28000.2954
- Windows Server 2012 fixed in:
  - 6.2.9200.26349
- Windows Server 2012 R2 fixed in:
  - 6.3.9600.23397
- Windows Server 2016 fixed in:
  - 10.0.14393.9512
- Windows Server 2019 fixed in:
  - 10.0.17763.9245

Upgrade/patch procedure

Install the updates from Microsoft’s guidance page for CVE-2026-69499: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-69499
After installation, reboot the system.
Re-check the build number to confirm it is now at (or above) a fixed build.

If patching is delayed (temporary containment)

Restrict inbound network access to the affected devices as much as possible until patching is complete.
If you have any segmentation/firewall rules, keep the vulnerable systems off broadly accessible networks.
Monitor for signs of compromise (suspicious processes, unusual outbound connections), since the risk is remote code execution.

What to monitor afterward

Confirm no regression in services that depend on imaging/image-handling workflows.
Ensure systems continue receiving security updates normally after this emergency patch.

Technical context

Severity is high (CVSS 8.8) and the weakness is CWE-190 (integer overflow). The Windows Imaging Component contains an integer overflow/wraparound condition that can be triggered via network-delivered input, enabling an unauthorized attacker to execute code remotely. In the provided findings, CISA KEV is not listed and there is no confirmed dated real-world exploitation claim or public exploit code on record; EPSS is a low predicted likelihood (reported as 0.8%) but this is a prediction and does not reduce urgency given the remote code execution impact and availability of fixed versions. “KEV” would indicate confirmed exploitation in the wild, but it was not listed here, so exploitation status beyond general risk is not confirmed by the provided sources.

This is a general assessment based on public vulnerability data. It does not account for your specific infrastructure — when in doubt, consult a security specialist.

Exploitation

Where each signal puts this CVE on the scale from published to confirmed exploited.

EPSS56th

CISA KEV

Not in the catalog. CISA has not confirmed exploitation.

Public exploits

No public exploit or proof of concept found in the sources we track.

EPSS

0.8% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 56th percentile of scored CVEs.

Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST.org. A probability, not a confirmation.

Lifecycle

7 events over 16 days, from the signal feeds we watch.

2026-09-24Record updated
2026-09-10OpenVAS check addedrecord updated
2026-09-08Publishedweakness classified, att&ck mapped, record updated

Affected products

Microsoftcommercial · US

And 12 more affected products. See all after sign-in

Technical detail

CVSS 3.1 vector

Open in the CVSS calculator

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Scored 8.8 by NVD.

How it is reached

Attack Vector NetworkExploitable remotely over the network without any special conditions
Attack Complexity LowNo special conditions — the attack can be reliably reproduced
Privileges Required NoneNo authentication required — anyone can exploit this
User Interaction RequiredA user must click a link, open a file, or perform some action

Scope

Scope UnchangedImpact is limited to the vulnerable component itself

Impact if exploited

Confidentiality HighTotal information disclosure — all data in the component is compromised
Integrity HighTotal loss of integrity — attacker can modify any data in the component
Availability HighTotal denial of service — the component is completely unavailable