Security Digest · Vulnerability record · Known exploited

CVE-2026-20805: Microsoft Windows Information Disclosure Vulnerability

Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). Exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor in Desktop Windows Manager allows an authorized attacker to disclose information locally.

CISA KEV · added 2026-01-13 CVSS 5.5 Medium EPSS 7.5% · p94

Should you act?

Exploited: patch now if you run it

CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.

  • Yes, if you run Microsoft Windows. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-01-13, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2026-02-03; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
  • EPSS 7.5%, percentile 94: FIRST’s model estimates a 7.5% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 94% of all scored CVEs (elevated). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
  • Needs local access needed. Lower urgency for most teams unless an attacker could already run code on the machine.

What it is

Exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor in Desktop Windows Manager allows an authorized attacker to disclose information locally.

CISA’s summary

Microsoft Windows Desktop Windows Manager contains an information disclosure vulnerability that allows an authorized attacker to disclose information locally.

Weakness type: CWE-200.

Product: Microsoft Windows · Assigned by: microsoft · Published: 2026-01-13

Affected and fixed versions

VendorProductAffected versions (per CVE record)
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 160710.0.14393.0 < 10.0.14393.8783
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 180910.0.17763.0 < 10.0.17763.8276
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 21H210.0.19044.0 < 10.0.19044.6809
MicrosoftWindows 10 Version 22H210.0.19045.0 < 10.0.19045.6809
MicrosoftWindows 11 version 23H210.0.22631.0 < 10.0.22631.6491
MicrosoftWindows 11 Version 23H210.0.22631.0 < 10.0.22631.6491
MicrosoftWindows 11 Version 24H210.0.26100.0 < 10.0.26100.7623
MicrosoftWindows 11 Version 25H210.0.26200.0 < 10.0.26200.7623
MicrosoftWindows Server 20126.2.9200.0 < 6.2.9200.25868
MicrosoftWindows Server 2012 (Server Core installation)6.2.9200.0 < 6.2.9200.25868

Severity scores

Scored byCVSSScoreVector
microsoft3.15.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
  • Attack vector: local access needed
  • Attack complexity: low
  • Privileges required: low (any account)
  • User interaction: none
  • Scope: unchanged

CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.

Exploitation and urgency

  • CISA KEV: added 2026-01-13; federal due date 2026-02-03. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
  • CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
  • CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact partial.
  • FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 7.46% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 94.

Timeline

  • — Added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
  • — CVE record published by microsoft
  • — CISA remediation deadline for US federal agencies
  • — CVE record last updated

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.

Vendor and project advisories, patches

  1. Desktop Window Manager Information Disclosure Vulnerability msrc.microsoft.com
  2. Listed in CISA KEV notes (msrc.microsoft.com) msrc.microsoft.com

Vulnerability records

  1. CVE.org record CVE-2026-20805 cve.org
  2. NVD entry CVE-2026-20805 nvd.nist.gov

Government

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry cisa.gov

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