EUVD-2026-44122
GHSA-6grp-7qp6-c6r9
Severity by source
AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Physical access is the sole entry point; no credentials needed; impact is confidentiality-only as encrypted data is exposed but not altered.
Primary rating from Vendor (microsoft).
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
4DescriptionNVD
Protection mechanism failure in Windows BitLocker allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature with a physical attack.
AnalysisAI
BitLocker encryption bypass on Windows enables an unauthenticated attacker with physical access to circumvent drive-level encryption protections and read confidential data from protected volumes. Affected platforms span Windows 10 (versions 1607 through 22H2), Windows 11 (24H2 through 26H1), and Windows Server 2016 through 2025, with a publicly available proof-of-concept exploit on GitHub lowering the bar for physical-access adversaries. No active exploitation is confirmed (not in CISA KEV; SSVC exploitation status: none), and EPSS sits at 0.38% (30th percentile), consistent with a targeted rather than opportunistic threat; Microsoft has released patches across all affected build lines.
Technical ContextAI
Windows BitLocker is Microsoft's built-in full-disk encryption feature that protects data at rest by encrypting volumes using AES, typically unsealed via a TPM chip, startup PIN, or recovery key. CWE-693 (Protection Mechanism Failure) identifies the root cause class: a defect in the logic or enforcement of the security boundary that BitLocker is designed to enforce, allowing the protection to be bypassed without possessing the correct credentials or recovery material. CPE data confirms the affected surface includes cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:windows_10_version_1607, windows_10_version_1809, windows_10_version_21h2, windows_10_version_22h2, windows_11_version_24h2, windows_11_version_25h2, windows_11_version_26h1, windows_server_2016, windows_server_2019, with EUVD additionally confirming Windows Server 2022 and 2025. The specific bypass mechanism (e.g., cold-boot, DMA attack, pre-boot authentication flaw, TPM sniffing) is not detailed in the available data, but the physical attack vector and no-integrity-impact CVSS profile suggest a read-only data-exfiltration path rather than arbitrary code execution.
RemediationAI
Apply the Microsoft security update for the relevant Windows build as detailed in the MSRC advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-50661. Patched builds confirmed via EUVD are: Windows 10 1607/Server 2016 at 10.0.14393.9339 or later, Windows 10 1809/Server 2019 at 10.0.17763.9020 or later, Windows 10 21H2 at 10.0.19044.7548 or later, Windows 10 22H2 at 10.0.19045.7548 or later, Windows 11 24H2 at 10.0.26100.8875 or later, Windows 11 25H2 at 10.0.26200.8875 or later, Windows 11 26H1 at 10.0.28000.2525 or later, Windows Server 2022 at 10.0.20348.5386 or later, and Windows Server 2025 at 10.0.26100.33158 or later. As compensating controls where immediate patching is not possible, organizations should enforce BitLocker with a pre-boot PIN (rather than TPM-only mode), which adds a second authentication factor that physical attackers cannot bypass without knowing the PIN; trade-off is increased user friction at every boot. Additionally, enabling TPM lockout policies and disabling DMA ports (Thunderbolt/USB4) via firmware or group policy reduces physical attack surface; trade-off is loss of peripheral connectivity. High-value devices in travel scenarios should be placed in monitored device management with remote-wipe capability as a contingency.
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Same weakness CWE-693 – Protection Mechanism Failure
View allSame technique Authentication Bypass
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External POC / Exploit Code
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