---
id: CVE-2026-20928
title: >-
  Improper removal of sensitive information before storage or transfer in
  Windows Recovery Environment Agent allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a
  security feature with a physical attack.
summary: >-
  Improper removal of sensitive information before storage or transfer in
  Windows Recovery Environment Agent allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a
  security feature with a physical attack.
severity: medium
cvss: 4.6
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'
cwe:
  - CWE-212
vendor: microsoft
product: windows_10_1607
affected:
  - windows_10_1607 < 10.0.14393.9060
  - windows_10_1809 < 10.0.17763.8644
  - windows_10_21h2 < 10.0.19044.7184
  - windows_10_22h2 < 10.0.19045.7184
  - windows_11_23h2 < 10.0.22631.6936
  - windows_11_24h2 < 10.0.26100.8246
  - windows_11_25h2 < 10.0.26200.8246
  - windows_11_26h1 < 10.0.28000.1836
  - windows_server_2016 < 10.0.14393.9060
  - windows_server_2019 < 10.0.17763.8644
  - windows_server_2022 < 10.0.20348.5020
  - windows_server_2022_23h2 < 10.0.25398.2274
  - windows_server_2025 < 10.0.26100.32690
patched:
  - windows_10_1607 10.0.14393.9060
  - windows_10_1809 10.0.17763.8644
  - windows_10_21h2 10.0.19044.7184
  - windows_10_22h2 10.0.19045.7184
  - windows_11_23h2 10.0.22631.6936
  - windows_11_24h2 10.0.26100.8246
  - windows_11_25h2 10.0.26200.8246
  - windows_11_26h1 10.0.28000.1836
  - windows_server_2016 10.0.14393.9060
  - windows_server_2019 10.0.17763.8644
  - windows_server_2022 10.0.20348.5020
  - windows_server_2022_23h2 10.0.25398.2274
  - windows_server_2025 10.0.26100.32690
published: '2026-04-14'
updated: '2026-10-14'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-14T23:17:30.167'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-20928'
references:
  - url: 'https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-20928'
    label: secure@microsoft.com
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
epss: 0.0043
epssPercentile: 0.37065
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-04-15T10:41:12.577586Z'
ingestedAt: '2026-09-25T18:14:20.438Z'
---

## Overview

Improper removal of sensitive information before storage or transfer in Windows Recovery Environment Agent allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature with a physical attack.

## Affected

- `windows_10_1607 < 10.0.14393.9060`
- `windows_10_1809 < 10.0.17763.8644`
- `windows_10_21h2 < 10.0.19044.7184`
- `windows_10_22h2 < 10.0.19045.7184`
- `windows_11_23h2 < 10.0.22631.6936`
- `windows_11_24h2 < 10.0.26100.8246`
- `windows_11_25h2 < 10.0.26200.8246`
- `windows_11_26h1 < 10.0.28000.1836`
- `windows_server_2016 < 10.0.14393.9060`
- `windows_server_2019 < 10.0.17763.8644`
- `windows_server_2022 < 10.0.20348.5020`
- `windows_server_2022_23h2 < 10.0.25398.2274`
- `windows_server_2025 < 10.0.26100.32690`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `windows_10_1607 10.0.14393.9060`
- `windows_10_1809 10.0.17763.8644`
- `windows_10_21h2 10.0.19044.7184`
- `windows_10_22h2 10.0.19045.7184`
- `windows_11_23h2 10.0.22631.6936`
- `windows_11_24h2 10.0.26100.8246`
- `windows_11_25h2 10.0.26200.8246`
- `windows_11_26h1 10.0.28000.1836`
- `windows_server_2016 10.0.14393.9060`
- `windows_server_2019 10.0.17763.8644`
- `windows_server_2022 10.0.20348.5020`
- `windows_server_2022_23h2 10.0.25398.2274`
- `windows_server_2025 10.0.26100.32690`