What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-20818?

CVE-2026-20818 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.2 (Medium). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.0%.

How to fix or mitigate CVE-2026-20818?

Within 30 days: Identify affected systems and apply vendor patches as part of regular patch cycle. Review data exposure and access controls.

Windows CVE-2026-20818

MEDIUM

Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File (CWE-532)

2026-01-13 secure@microsoft.com

Windows Linux Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 2022 Windows Server 2022 23h2 Windows Server 2025

6.2

CVSS 3.1 · NVD

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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-532 OWASP Top 10:2025 A09:2025 - Security Logging & Alerting Failures ASVS 5.0 V16 - Security Logging and Error Handling Log data sanitization
Impact	CVSS 6.2 (MEDIUM). Attack vector: Local. Complexity: Low. Privileges required: None. User interaction: None. Exploitation no authentication required. Exploitable via local access.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	An attacker without authentication could exploit this vulnerability to compromise the affected system.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).

Patch available 0.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026

Windows Kernel inadvertently logs sensitive information to accessible log files, enabling local attackers to read confidential data on affected Windows and Linux systems. This information disclosure vulnerability requires no privileges or user interaction to exploit and impacts Windows Server 2016, 2022, and 2025 along with standard Windows installations. No patch is currently available for this medium-severity issue.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)

v1 Mar 12, 2026 - 21:54 CVSS 6.2

Insertion of sensitive information into log file in Windows Kernel allows an unauthorized attacker to disclose information locally. [CVSS 6.2 MEDIUM]

RemediationAI

Monitor vendor advisories for a patch.

Affected Packages

microsoft windows_server_2016_10_0_14393_8783 fix: Windows Server 2016 10.0.14393.8783, Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation) 10.0.14393.8783

microsoft windows_server_2019_10_0_17763_8276 fix: Windows Server 2019 10.0.17763.8276, Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.8276

microsoft windows_server_2022_10_0_20348_4648 fix: Windows Server 2022 10.0.20348.4648, Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation) 10.0.20348.4648

microsoft windows_server_2022_23h2_edition_10_0_25398_2092 fix: Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation) 10.0.25398.2092

microsoft windows_server_2025_10_0_26100_32230 fix: Windows Server 2025 10.0.26100.32230, Windows Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.32230

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 5 packages in microsoft

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Classified as CWE-532 (Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File). Affects Windows Server 2016. Insertion of sensitive information into log file in Windows Kernel allows an unauthorized attacker to disclose information locally.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 6.2 MEDIUM

AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

None

Availability

None

DescriptionCVE.org

Insertion of sensitive information into log file in Windows Kernel allows an unauthorized attacker to disclose information locally.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Organizations using Insertion of sensitive information into log file in Windows Kernel should be aware of moderate risk from CVE-2026-20818, a log file exposure vulnerability rated CVSS 6.2. This could allow unauthorized file access. Organizations should apply vendor updates when available and monitor for exploitation.

Business Impact: Low

Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. If patching is delayed: restrict endpoint access, redact sensitive data in logs.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

0.0%

Top 88% exploitable

Data Quality

3 sources

Confidence: Low

NVD

CVE.org

EPSS

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue

Severity MEDIUM

CISA KEV No

Public POC No

EPSS 0.0%

Patch available Yes

Active threat No

Deciding rule

MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Defer

Exploitation· derived

None

System Exposure· derived

Small

Automatable· derived

Human Impact

Low

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: 0

CVSS: +31

PoC: 0

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: 0

Gov advisory: 0

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2016:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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References

Advisories & patches

ADVISORY https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-20818

Search Externally

GitHub PoC

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