CVE-2026-20856CWE-20

CVE-2026-20856

High · published January 13, 2026

CVSS v3.1
8.1
EPSS
1%
Percentile
65.8
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚡ A sneaky flaw in Windows Server Update Service could let an unauthorized attacker execute code from miles away. Yikes! Think of it as a delivery service that accepts any parcel without verifying the sender—just because it came from the outside doesn't mean it’s safe! If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to run malicious code on your network, potentially compromising sensitive data or taking control of vital systems. The consequences could be absolutely devastating, putting your organization at serious risk.

Put simply

Think of it as a delivery service that accepts any parcel without verifying the sender—just because it came from the outside doesn't mean it’s safe! This vulnerability arises from improper input validation in the Windows Server Update Service, which allows attackers to send specially crafted requests that the system accepts without proper checks.

What to do

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to run malicious code on your network, potentially compromising sensitive data or taking control of vital systems. The consequences could be absolutely devastating, putting your organization at serious risk. Update your Windows Server Update Service to the latest version immediately to patch this vulnerability. Make sure to review and strengthen your input validation processes as well to prevent similar issues in the future. You've got this! With a quick update, you can secure your system and keep those nasty attackers at bay! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
8.1 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.01116 · 65.8th percentile
Weakness
CWE-20 · Improper Input Validation
Published
2026-01-13T23:16Z
Affected products (16)
ProductVersionsFixed in
microsoft/windows_10_1607< 10.0.14393.878310.0.14393.8783
microsoft/windows_10_1607< 10.0.14393.878310.0.14393.8783
microsoft/windows_10_1809< 10.0.17763.827610.0.17763.8276
microsoft/windows_10_1809< 10.0.17763.827610.0.17763.8276
microsoft/windows_10_21h2< 10.0.19044.680910.0.19044.6809
microsoft/windows_10_22h2< 10.0.19045.680910.0.19045.6809
microsoft/windows_11_23h2< 10.0.22631.649110.0.22631.6491
microsoft/windows_11_24h2< 10.0.26100.762310.0.26100.7623
microsoft/windows_11_25h2< 10.0.26200.762310.0.26200.7623
microsoft/windows_server_2012all versions—
microsoft/windows_server_2012all versions—
microsoft/windows_server_2016< 10.0.14393.878310.0.14393.8783
microsoft/windows_server_2019< 10.0.17763.827610.0.17763.8276
microsoft/windows_server_2022< 10.0.20348.464810.0.20348.4648
microsoft/windows_server_2022_23h2< 10.0.25398.209210.0.25398.2092
microsoft/windows_server_2025< 10.0.26100.3223010.0.26100.32230
References (1)
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 13 JAN 17:56Z
    Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
    cvelistv5