CVE-2026-88173: Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Use after free in Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
Other sources
Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
— Microsoft
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.2.9200.26434Patch KB5126835 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 10.0.26100.33650Patch KB5126646 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 10.0.14393.9612Patch KB5126868 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.3.9600.23470Patch KB5126836 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 10.0.20348.5761Patch KB5126655 - Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 10.0.17763.9376Patch KB5126651
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Which systems should be prioritized for assessment?
Assess Microsoft Windows 10 and the listed Windows Server releases: Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025. The vulnerability is in the Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS).
Does exploitation require an authenticated account or user interaction?
No. The supplied vector identifies no privileges required and no user interaction required, so an unauthorized attacker can attempt exploitation over a network.
What level of impact could successful exploitation have?
Successful exploitation can allow remote code execution. The provided metrics rate confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact as high.
Is exploitation described as straightforward?
No. The supplied attack-complexity metric is high, indicating exploitation requires conditions beyond simple network reachability.