This has been around for a while, but I haven't seen anyone report this issue, as many non-vanilla server software have hotfixes for this.
Bug Description
When a held-up shield is disabled, a damage-tick-like behavior occurs: the player no longer receives knockback, and only takes damage that is greater than the initial damage within the damage tick. However, the player does not turn red, nor has received any damage on the shield disable. See also the attached videos.
Steps to Reproduce
Disable a player's held-up shield using an axe
And then hit the player again after roughly 0.4 seconds
The bug is reproduced
OR
Let 2 mobs (wielding axes) attack a player while their shield is held up
If the 2 mobs attack is less than 0.5 seconds apart as well as not at the same time, the bug is reproduced
Expected Behavior
Damage tick does not get triggered when the shield is disabled, but on the following attack instead, so that knockback could be applied after hitting twice rapidly, and the player would turn red on the second hit.
I can confirm in 1.20.4, I have video of it as well if it's useful.
I've experienced the bug in 1.18.2, 1.19.2, 1.19.3, 1.19.4, 1.20.1, 1.20.2 and then 1.20.4.
But it may very well be an even older bug.