Track vulnerabilities like this one. Sign up free to get alerted when software you use is affected.

CVE-2026-96951: Windows Shell lets remote attacker bypass security

CVE-2026-96951 · published 5 days ago · actively exploited

Summary

The Windows command processor in Windows 10 versions 1607, 1809, and 21H2, as well as Outlook.com, can be tricked into running unauthorized commands over a network. This could let an attacker bypass protective controls and take actions on the system. Install the latest Microsoft security updates and ensure automatic patching is enabled.

What to do

Update microsoft outlook.com to version 20260925.100 or later.
Update microsoft windows 10 version 1607 to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows 10 version 1809 to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows 10 version 21h2 to version 10.0.19044.7807 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 23h2 to version 10.0.22631.7652 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 24h2 to version 10.0.26100.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 25h2 to version 10.0.26200.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 26h1 to version 10.0.28000.3231 or later.
Update microsoft windows 11 version 26h2 to version 10.0.26300.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2012 r2 to version 6.3.9600.23470 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2012 r2 (server core installation) to version 6.3.9600.23470 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2016 to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2016 (server core installation) to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2019 to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2019 (server core installation) to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2022 to version 10.0.20348.5761 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2025 to version 10.0.26100.33650 or later.
Update microsoft windows server 2025 (server core installation) to version 10.0.26100.33650 or later.
Update microsoft outlook to version 20260925.100 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_1607 to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_1809 to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_21h2 to version 10.0.19044.7807 or later.
Update microsoft windows_10_22h2 to version 10.0.19045.7807 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_23h2 to version 10.0.22631.7652 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_24h2 to version 10.0.26100.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_25h2 to version 10.0.26200.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_26h1 to version 10.0.28000.3231 or later.
Update microsoft windows_11_26h2 to version 10.0.26300.9711 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2016 to version 10.0.14393.9612 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2019 to version 10.0.17763.9376 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2022 to version 10.0.20348.5761 or later.
Update microsoft windows_server_2025 to version 10.0.26100.33650 or later.

Affected software

Vendor	Product	Affected versions
microsoft	windows	All versions
microsoft	outlook.com	< 20260925.100
microsoft	windows 10 version 1607	< 10.0.14393.9612
microsoft	windows 10 version 1809	< 10.0.17763.9376
microsoft	windows 10 version 21h2	< 10.0.19044.7807
microsoft	windows 10 version 22h2	< 10.0.19044.7807 < 10.0.19045.7807
microsoft	windows 11 version 23h2	< 10.0.22631.7652
microsoft	windows 11 version 24h2	< 10.0.26100.9711
microsoft	windows 11 version 25h2	< 10.0.26200.9711
microsoft	windows 11 version 26h1	< 10.0.28000.3231
microsoft	windows 11 version 26h2	< 10.0.26300.9711
microsoft	windows server 2012 r2	< 6.3.9600.23470
microsoft	windows server 2012 r2 (server core installation)	< 6.3.9600.23470
microsoft	windows server 2016	< 10.0.14393.9612
microsoft	windows server 2016 (server core installation)	< 10.0.14393.9612
microsoft	windows server 2019	< 10.0.17763.9376
microsoft	windows server 2019 (server core installation)	< 10.0.17763.9376
microsoft	windows server 2022	< 10.0.20348.5761
microsoft	windows server 2025	< 10.0.26100.33650
microsoft	windows server 2025 (server core installation)	< 10.0.26100.33650
microsoft	outlook	< 20260925.100 `cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:outlook:::::-:windows::`
microsoft	windows_10_1607	< 10.0.14393.9612 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1607:::::::x64:*`
microsoft	windows_10_1809	< 10.0.17763.9376 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_1809:::::::x64:*`
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	< 10.0.19044.7807 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	< 10.0.19045.7807 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_23h2	< 10.0.22631.7652 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	< 10.0.26100.9711 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	< 10.0.26200.9711 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_26h1	< 10.0.28000.3231 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h1:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_11_26h2	< 10.0.26300.9711 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_26h2:::::::arm64:*`
microsoft	windows_server_2012	r2 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2012:r2:::::::*`
microsoft	windows_server_2016	< 10.0.14393.9612 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016::::::::`
microsoft	windows_server_2019	< 10.0.17763.9376 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019::::::::`
microsoft	windows_server_2022	< 10.0.20348.5761 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022::::::::`
microsoft	windows_server_2025	< 10.0.26100.33650 `cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:::::::x64:*`
microsoft	outlook_web	All versions `cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:outlook_web:-:::::::*`

Original advisory text

Microsoft Windows Command Injection Vulnerability

Microsoft Windows Shell contains a command injection vulnerability that allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature over a network.

References

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-96951 vendor-advisory patch
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-... US Government Resource

Fix within

Internet-facing 3 days

and check for signs of compromise

Internal 14 days

Known to be exploited
Needs hands-on effort to exploit
Gives an attacker full control

Severity

8.8 High

Exploitation

Known exploited

Listed in the CISA KEV catalogue - exploitation confirmed in the wild.

2% chance of attack within 30 days

Type

CWE-77Command Injection

Timeline

Published13 Oct 2026

Updated17 Oct 2026

First seen13 Oct 2026

Sources

CVE-2026-96951 · CISA KEV

CVE-2026-96951 · NVD

CVE-2026-96951 · MITRE

Track software like this

Free during beta