CVE-2026-20901

CVE Details

Release Date:	2026-08-11
Impact:	Moderate	What is this?

Description

Improper input validation for some Intel(R) Xeon(R) processors within firmware may allow an escalation of privilege. Startup code and smm adversary with a privileged user combined with a high complexity attack may enable data alteration. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are present without special internal knowledge and requires no user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (none), integrity (none) and availability (none) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (none), integrity (high) and availability (none) impacts.

See more information about CVE-2026-20901 from MITRE CVE dictionary and NIST NVD

NOTE: The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.

CVSS v3 metrics

Base Score:	5.3
Vector String:	CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
Version:	3.1
Attack Vector:	Local
Attack Complexity:	High
Privileges Required:	High
User Interaction:	None
Scope:	Changed
Confidentiality Impact:	None
Integrity Impact:	High
Availability Impact:	None

Errata information

Platform	Errata	Release Date
Oracle Linux version 10 (microcode_ctl)	ELSA-2026-500239	2026-09-02
Oracle Linux version 8 (microcode_ctl)	ELSA-2026-500239	2026-09-02
Oracle Linux version 9 (microcode_ctl)	ELSA-2026-500239	2026-09-02