# CVE-2026-20901: intel-microcode: Improper input validation for some Intel(R) Xeon(R) processors within firmware may allow an escalation of privilege

CVE-2026-20901 is fixed in 3 products on 1 platform, first by DEBIAN-CVE-2026-20901, released August 11, 2026. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-20901
- Priority: Routine
- CVSS: 5.3 (medium)
- EPSS: 0.0010
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Aug 11, 2026

## 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.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | intel-microcode Debian 14 | 3.20260925.1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-20901](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-20901.md) | Aug 11, 2026 |
| Linux | microcode_ctl amzn 2023 | 2:2.1-53.amzn2023.0.16 | [ALAS2023-2026-2080](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-2080.md) | Aug 31, 2026 |
| Linux | microcode_ctl ol 10 | 4:20260812-1.0.2.el9_8 | [ELSA-2026-500239](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500239.md) | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Linux | microcode_ctl ol 8 | 4:20260812-1.0.2.el9_8 | [ELSA-2026-500239](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500239.md) | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Linux | microcode_ctl ol 9 | 4:20260812-1.0.2.el9_8 | [ELSA-2026-500239](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-500239.md) | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Linux | ucode-intel opensuse-leap 16.0 | 20260812-160000.1.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:21736-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-21736-1.md) | Sep 2, 2026 |
| Linux | ucode-intel sles 15.6 | 20260812-150200.68.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:4025-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-4025-1.md) | Sep 7, 2026 |
| Linux | ucode-intel sles 15.7 | 20260812-150200.68.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:4025-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-4025-1.md) | Sep 7, 2026 |
| Linux | ucode-intel sles 16.0 | 20260812-160000.1.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:23602-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-23602-1.md) | Sep 21, 2026 |

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Data as of 2026-11-08T06:59:42Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

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