diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index 163f9edf68..30b3843f65 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-DD mmm YYYY - 2.9.x (to be released)
+04 Jan 2023 - 2.9.7
 -------------------
 
  * Fix: FILES_TMP_CONTENT may sometimes lack complete content
diff --git a/apache2/msc_release.h b/apache2/msc_release.h
index 8905a72ac2..bc6f959970 100644
--- a/apache2/msc_release.h
+++ b/apache2/msc_release.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 
 #define MODSEC_VERSION_MAJOR       "2"
 #define MODSEC_VERSION_MINOR       "9"
-#define MODSEC_VERSION_MAINT       "6"
+#define MODSEC_VERSION_MAINT       "7"
 #define MODSEC_VERSION_TYPE        ""
 #define MODSEC_VERSION_RELEASE     ""
 
diff --git a/iis/installer.wxs b/iis/installer.wxs
index 1db301954d..6ef3c05e6f 100644
--- a/iis/installer.wxs
+++ b/iis/installer.wxs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     lightArgs: 
 -->
 <Wix xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/2006/wi" xmlns:util="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wix/UtilExtension">
-    <Product Id="22B04FDB-9BAB-46B0-87B8-A39544ECECD3" Name="ModSecurity IIS" Language="1033" Version="2.9.6" Manufacturer="ModSecurity" UpgradeCode="82F09489-1678-4C38-ADCB-08C3757653DB">
+    <Product Id="22B04FDB-9BAB-46B0-87B8-A39544ECECD3" Name="ModSecurity IIS" Language="1033" Version="2.9.7" Manufacturer="ModSecurity" UpgradeCode="82F09489-1678-4C38-ADCB-08C3757653DB">
         <Package Description="ModSecurityISS" Comments="none" InstallerVersion="405" Compressed="yes" InstallPrivileges="elevated" InstallScope="perMachine" />
         <?define ProductName = "ModSecuirty IIS" ?>
         <?if $(sys.BUILDARCH) = x64 ?>