Microsoft has confirmed that Windows updates released on October 13, 2026, and later can leave SQL Server linked-server connections open after queries finish, gradually degrading performance on affected systems.
The issue affects queries that use OLE DB providers to connect to external databases, with Oracle and PostgreSQL among the known affected systems.
According to Microsoft’s release-health notices for Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2025 and Windows 11, version 24H2, connections can accumulate as more linked-server queries run, even when the queries themselves have ended. Administrators may see an increasing number of open connections to external databases, and server performance can deteriorate after prolonged operation.
The confirmed affected platforms include Windows 11 versions 23H2, 24H2, 25H2 and 26H1; Windows 10 version 1809 and Enterprise LTSC 2019; and Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, version 1809, 2022 and 2025. The issue is limited to SQL Server linked-server queries that use OLE DB providers.
Microsoft says a mitigation is available through Microsoft Support for Business and that it plans to release an out-of-band Windows update in the next few days. The company has not announced a specific release date for the fix.
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