CVE-2026-45585
CWE-77Published: May 20, 2026· Updated: May 22, 2026
Official Description
Microsoft is aware of a security feature bypass vulnerability in Windows publicly referred to as "YellowKey". The proof of concept for this vulnerability has been made public violating coordinated vulnerability best practices.
We are issuing this CVE to provide mitigation guidance that can be implemented to protect against this vulnerability until the security update is made available.
Mitigation FAQs
Should I leverage the temporary mitigation?
Microsoft recommends that you consider implementing these mitigations if you are concerned your devices and data are at risk of being compromised or stolen. For example, if your organization’s employees take their work devices home or on business travel.
What impact to service availability/management could be caused by implementing the mitigations?
Implementing these mitigations will not impact service availability or management operations.
Do customers need to revert the changes made to mitigate the vulnerability once the security update to protect against this vulnerability is available?
No. The security update will maintain the mitigation's behavior once the security update is installed.
I am using TPM+PIN, am I at risk of this vulnerability being exploited
No, if you are using TPM+PIN the vulnerability is not exploitable.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-45585 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.
A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 6.8.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
News & Research Mentioning CVE-2026-45585
Microsoft on Tuesday released a mitigation for a BitLocker bypass vulnerability named YellowKey following its public disclosure last week. The zero-day flaw, now tracked as CVE-2026-45585, carries a CVSS score of 6.8. It has been described as a BitLocker security feature bypass. "Microsoft is aware of a security feature bypass vulnerability in Windows publicly referred to as 'YellowKey,'" the [xlite_meta score:59 src:The Hacker News xlite_fp:5983c4f8b2ca262bad5640474bb16433992e97ee370382605deefe43a11b2556]
All References (2)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-77)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2026-45585 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts