CVE-2022-26809 — Windows 7
CRITICALCVE-2022-26809 is a critical-severity (CVSS 9.8) remote code execution vulnerability in microsoft windows 7. 32 public exploit references exist, so weaponization risk is real. No vendor fix is recorded yet; mitigation options are listed below.
Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Exploitation Status
Proof-of-concept exploit code exists
- CISA’s SSVC triage found public proof-of-concept exploit code for this CVE, though no confirmed active exploitation.
- CISA assesses this as automatable — exploitation doesn’t require manual, per-target effort, which raises the odds of mass scanning and opportunistic attacks.
- A successful exploit gives an attacker total control of the affected component, not partial access.
Exploitation and automatability from CISA’s SSVC triage for CVE-2022-26809.
EPSS Exploitation Probability
Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, from FIRST.org EPSS.
How urgent is this, really
CVE-2022-26809 by exploitation likelihood (EPSS) against impact (CVSS). In the shaded patch-first corner (EPSS 50%+, CVSS 7.0+).
Where this sits among everything scored
Of 394,415 CVEs with a current EPSS score, this one falls in the ≥ 90% band (highlighted). Counts from FIRST.org, log-scaled.
Description
Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Affected Products
windows 7microsoftwindows 8.1microsoftwindows 10microsoftwindows 11microsoftwindows rt 8.1microsoftwindows server 2008microsoftResearch use only. For defensive security, authorized penetration testing, and academic research only. Never execute exploit code against systems without explicit written authorization.
Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Detection & mitigation playbook
Vendor / applianceDetect
Inventory every microsoft windows 7 deployment and check each version against the affected-products list above.
Remediation status
No patch has shipped for CVE-2022-26809 yet — track the microsoft windows 7 advisory for a fixed release and apply the workarounds below in the meantime.
Mitigate without a patch
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands. Alongside that, restrict the management interface to trusted networks and apply the vendor's recommended configuration mitigations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2022-26809 being exploited in your environment?
Detect and block the exploit chain at execution, on systems you cannot patch yet.