CVE Tools
Track your stack

CVE-2026-42985

Remote Desktop Client Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

No known exploitation. EPSS puts it in the 70th percentile. Fixed versions are out.

CVSS 3.18.8HighEPSS percentile70th1.3% chance in 30 daysCISA KEVNot listedNo confirmed exploitation
No public exploit knownFix5 products9 fixed builds listed below
Check it yourself

OpenVAS · 17 checks

e.g. OID 1.3.6.1.4.1.25623.1.0.837693

Run the check

Published Updated Sources: CVE.org, NVD, BDU

NVD CVE.org

What to do

Find your product and version, then upgrade to the build on the right.

  • Microsoft Windows 10 Version 1607Affected: ≥ 10.0.14393.0, < 10.0.14393.9234Upgrade to: 10.0.14393.9234Affected: ≥ 10.0.17763.0, < 10.0.17763.8880Upgrade to: 10.0.17763.8880Affected: ≥ 10.0.19044.0, < 10.0.19044.7417Upgrade to: 10.0.19044.7417Affected: ≥ 10.0.19045.0, < 10.0.19045.7417Upgrade to: 10.0.19045.7417Stated by: CVE record
  • Microsoft Windows 11 version 23H2Affected: ≥ 10.0.22631.0, < 10.0.22631.7219Upgrade to: 10.0.22631.7219Affected: ≥ 10.0.26100.0, < 10.0.26100.8655Upgrade to: 10.0.26100.8655Affected: ≥ 10.0.26200.0, < 10.0.26200.8655Upgrade to: 10.0.26200.8655Affected: ≥ 10.0.28000.0, < 10.0.28000.2269Upgrade to: 10.0.28000.2269Stated by: CVE record
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2016Affected: ≥ 10.0.14393.0, < 10.0.14393.9234Upgrade to: 10.0.14393.9234Stated by: CVE record
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2019Affected: ≥ 10.0.17763.0, < 10.0.17763.8880Upgrade to: 10.0.17763.8880Stated by: CVE record
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2022Affected: ≥ 10.0.20348.0, < 10.0.20348.5256Upgrade to: 10.0.20348.5256Stated by: CVE record

Versions as the sources state them. 7 more products have version data. Full version matrix after sign-in

Steps

Written by AI from the record
  1. Check whether the device is running Remote Desktop Client / the Windows versions listed as affected (Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server editions).
  2. Verify the installed Remote Desktop Client / Windows build version and compare it to the fixed versions for your specific product line.
  3. Install the vendor update that contains the fix for CVE-2026-42985 (use the Microsoft Update Guide for your exact platform).
  4. If you can’t update immediately, reduce exposure by limiting access to Remote Desktop features and the network paths that could reach the Remote Desktop Client from outside your organization.
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

Use after free in Remote Desktop Client allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.

In plain language

Written by AI from the record

This is a Remote Desktop Client weakness where a remote attacker may be able to run malicious code on your device without needing authentication, so you should update if you use Remote Desktop—this is a high-risk issue (RED).

CVE-2026-42985 is a remote code execution vulnerability in the Remote Desktop Client (heap-based buffer overflow) that can be triggered by an unauthorized network attacker without authentication (user interaction is required), leading to high impact on Windows devices running affected versions.

If you're affected

  • Malware running on company devices
  • Full compromise of affected machines
  • Data theft risk
  • Business disruption from downtime

Exploitation

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

EPSS70th
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

1.3% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 70th percentile of scored CVEs.

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

Lifecycle

10 events over 44 days, from the signal feeds we watch.

  1. Patch availablerecord updated
  2. Patch availablerecord updated
  3. OpenVAS check added
  4. Patch availablerecord updated
  5. Publishedweakness classified, att&ck mapped

Affected products

And 51 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

Weaknesses

ATT&CK techniques

Mapped from the weaknesses above (CWE to ATT&CK), not observed in attacks.

Sources

References in the record

In the news

Watch the software you run.

My Stack ranks new CVEs for your products by real-world exploitation, so the next serious one reaches you without reading every advisory.

We'll flag the next CVE, public exploit or patch for Remote Desktop Client, not every advisory.