CVE-2026-20718 Privilege escalation in Intel(R) NPU Driver software installers
An attacker with local access can exploit incorrect installer permissions to escalate privileges on systems using Intel NPU drivers.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-20718?
CVE-2026-20718 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Intel(R) NPU Driver software installers, published on 12 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
Incorrect default permissions for some Intel(R) NPU Driver software installers before version 32.0.100.4511 within Ring 3: User Applications may allow an escalation of privilege. Unprivileged software 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 without special internal knowledge and requires active user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (high), integrity (high) and availability (high) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (none), integrity (none) and availability (none) impacts.
Weakness: CWE-276
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-20718?
How do I fix CVE-2026-20718?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-20718 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Is CVE-2026-20718 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20718 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-xv9x-vj9p-xq8g.