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.
A local attacker with privileged access can exploit improper access control in Intel Xeon firmware to escalate privileges and compromise system confidentiality and integrity.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- An administrator
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-20898?
CVE-2026-20898 is a high-severity vulnerability 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., 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 in the firmware for some 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.
Weakness: CWE-284
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-20898?
It affects 175 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 6353p Firmware and 169 more.
How do I fix CVE-2026-20898?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-20898 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Is CVE-2026-20898 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-20898 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities 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.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-x334-5fcx-5jhr.