CVE-2026-20738 Null dereference in Intel(R) QuickAssist Adapter 8960 software
Untrusted pointer dereference in Intel QuickAssist Adapter software allows local attackers to escalate privileges.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-20738?
CVE-2026-20738 is a high-severity vulnerability in Intel(R) QuickAssist Adapter 8960 software, published on 12 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Untrusted pointer dereference for some Intel(R) QuickAssist Adapter 8960 software before version 1.13 within Ring 3: User Applications may allow an escalation of privilege. Unprivileged software adversary with an authenticated user combined with a low 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 (high) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (none), integrity (none) and availability (none) impacts.
Weakness: CWE-822
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-20738?
How do I fix CVE-2026-20738?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-20738 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Is CVE-2026-20738 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20738 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-qmx6-w9c6-prh5.