CVE-2026-20716 Privilege escalation in Intel(R) Processors
A local attacker with special internal knowledge can escalate privileges on Intel processors, compromising system confidentiality and integrity.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-20716?
CVE-2026-20716 is a high-severity vulnerability in Intel(R) Processors, published on 11 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Improper access control for some Intel(R) Processors within Ring 3: User Applications may allow an escalation of privilege. Simple hardware adversary with an authenticated user combined with a high complexity attack may enable escalation of privilege. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are present with special internal knowledge and requires no user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (high), integrity (high) and availability (none) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (none), integrity (none) and availability (none) impacts.
Weakness: CWE-284
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-20716?
It affects 90 products.
Products include Intel Xeon 6315p Firmware, Intel Xeon 6325p Firmware, Intel Xeon 6333p Firmware, Intel Xeon 6337p Firmware, Intel Xeon 6349p Firmware, Intel Xeon 634 Firmware and 84 more.
How do I fix CVE-2026-20716?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2026-20716 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20716 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Intel(R) Processors
- CVE-2026-20898 Privilege escalation in in Alias Checking Trusted Module for some Intel(R) Xeon(R) processors may allow an escalation of privilege. Startup code and SMM adversary with a privileged user combined with a high complexity attack may enable escalation of privilege. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are not present without special internal knowledge and requires no user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (high), integrity (high) and availability (none) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (high), integrity (high) and availability (none) impacts.
- CVE-2025-31936 Privilege escalation in Intel(R) Xeon(R) 6 processors when using Intel(R) TDX
Sources
Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2026-20716, BELL-CVE-2026-20716, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-20716, GHSA-hp82-4wwh-pr9m, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-20716.