Windows 11 Paint Has a Remote Hacking Bug - How to Check Your Version and Get the Fix

Microsoft has fixed a serious security bug in the Windows 11 Paint app, but the fix comes from the Microsoft Store, not Windows Update - so check your Paint version today.

It takes one minute, and there's no need to panic - Microsoft rates the bug hard to exploit, and no attacks have been reported.

Below is what the bug is, how to see your version, and how to get the update.

What the Paint Bug Is

The flaw is tracked as CVE-2026-83844, and Microsoft calls it a "Windows Paint Remote Code Execution Vulnerability".

In plain English, a bug in how Paint reads data could let an attacker run their own code on your PC.

It scores 8.1 out of 10 on the standard severity scale. The official record says the attacker needs no password and no click from you, but the attack is complex to pull off.

Microsoft released the fix on October 13 through the Store, but many PCs still don't have it.

Check Your Paint Version

1. Open Paint. Click the gear icon at the top right, then look for the version number under About Paint.
2. Or ask PowerShell. Open Windows PowerShell and run Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.Paint | Select-Object Name, Version.
3. Compare the number. Microsoft's support page names version 11.2609.401.0 or newer as protected.

There's a small twist. The official CVE record lists versions below 11.2605.91.0 as affected, a lower number than the support page gives, so if you're between the two you're probably fine but not certainly.

How to Get the Fix

1. Open the Microsoft Store. Click Library (called Downloads on some Store versions) at the bottom left.
2. Click Get updates. Let the Store check and install everything it finds, including Paint.
3. Check the version again. Close Paint first, then repeat the check above.

Need to Edit Images in the Meantime?

If you'd rather not open Paint until it's patched, a free editor does the same jobs and more. paint.net is the closest match, with layers and effects but the same simple feel.

For quick crops, resizing and format changes, IrfanView opens almost any image in a blink.

If you want Photoshop-style tools, try PhotoCraft or GIMP.

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