Improper input validation for some Intel(R) Xeon(R) processors within firmware may allow an escalation of privilege. (CVE-2026-20901)
Description
This vulnerability involves improper input validation in the firmware of some Intel Xeon processors, potentially allowing escalation of privilege. The issue requires local access and a privileged user with high attack complexity. It does not impact confidentiality or availability but can affect system integrity. No user interaction is needed for exploitation. No patch information is currently available.
CVSS v3.1
Score 5.3medium
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-20901 describes an improper input validation vulnerability in the firmware of certain Intel Xeon processors. The flaw may allow an attacker with local privileged access to escalate privileges by exploiting startup code and System Management Mode (SMM) adversary vectors. The attack requires high complexity and no user interaction. The vulnerability impacts system integrity but not confidentiality or availability. There are no known exploits in the wild and no patch or remediation details have been provided.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability can lead to a high integrity impact on affected systems, meaning attackers could alter data or system state. Confidentiality and availability are not affected. Exploitation requires local privileged access and is complex, limiting the likelihood of widespread exploitation.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. No official fix or workaround information is available at this time.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- GHSA-j38j-4xcw-8784
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.4.0
- Aliases
- ["CVE-2026-20901"]
- Database Specific Severity
- MODERATE
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6a91c078acd9273b491e7b2b
Added to database: 08/28/2026, 17:08:08 UTC
Last enriched: 09/09/2026, 22:22:57 UTC
Last updated: 10/12/2026, 18:48:18 UTC
Views: 79
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