CVE-2026-20738

Privilege Escalation via Pointer Dereference in Intel QuickAssist Adapter 8960 Software

Published May 12, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 8.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed

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.

Analysis

Technical impact

Untrusted pointer dereference within the Intel® QuickAssist Adapter 8960 software in Ring 3 can be exploited by a local authenticated user with low complexity to gain privileges above their own. The flaw allows an attacker to acquire full control over the system, potentially resulting in loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as the vulnerability can be triggered without user interaction and without special internal knowledge.

Affected Systems

Intel® QuickAssist Adapter 8960 software versions prior to 1.13 are vulnerable. The impact affects any system running that software and where the exploit may be invoked locally.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 8.5 indicates severe risk. With no EPSS score and absence from the CISA KEV catalog, the exact exploit prevalence is unknown. Based on the description, it is inferred that the attack is local, requiring an authenticated user with low complexity and no requirement for network exposure or user interaction, making it a highly actionable risk for systems that rely on the adapter.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

n/a

Intel(R) QuickAssist Adapter 8960 software

unaffected

Version	Status	Constraints
`before version 1.13`	affected	—

No data.

Vendor Product Versions

Intel

Quickassist Adapter 8960

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[0,1.13)`	affected	generic	—

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

Upgrade the Intel QuickAssist Adapter Software to version 1.13 or later.
If the upgrade is not immediately feasible, restrict or disable the adapter functionality for non-essential services or users.
Apply the principle of least privilege to all processes that interface with the adapter and verify that user permissions are appropriately limited.
Contact Intel support for any interim mitigations or for confirmation of patch availability.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on May 12, 2026 at 18:25 UTC.

Tracking

Advisories

No advisories available

Metrics

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact High

Vulnerable System Availability Impact High

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

No CVSS v3.1

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploit prediction score: < 1% (0.112% probability within 30 days)

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

References

Link	Providers
https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01387.html

History

May 13, 2026 11:00 AM First appearance in the feed. Affected vendors updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
First Time appeared		Intel Intel quickassist Adapter 8960
Vendors & Products		Intel Intel quickassist Adapter 8960

May 13, 2026 5:15 AM Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics		ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

May 12, 2026 6:45 PM Title updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Title		Privilege Escalation via Pointer Dereference in Intel QuickAssist Adapter 8960 Software

May 12, 2026 4:45 PM Description updated. Weaknesses updated. Added references. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
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.
Weaknesses		CWE-822
References		https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01387.html
Metrics		cvssV4_0 `{'score': 8.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}`