# CVE-2026-20731: Intel NPU Driver buffer restriction denial of service

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20731-intel-npu-driver-buffer-restriction-denial-of-service  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-08-11. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-20731 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.1 · Published 2026-08-11

Intel's NPU (Neural Processing Unit) Driver contains improper buffer restrictions that allow unprivileged, authenticated users to trigger a denial of service condition. An attacker can locally exploit this vulnerability with minimal complexity to crash or hang the system, impacting availability. Updates are available for both Linux and Windows versions of the driver.

Technologies: [Intel NPU Driver for Linux](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/npu-driver-for-linux), [Intel NPU Driver for Windows](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/npu-driver-for-windows). Vendors: [Intel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/intel).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-20731 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20731 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20731?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.1, published 11 August 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Intel NPU Driver for Linux before 1.32.0; Intel NPU Driver for Windows before 32.0.100.4723.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20731?** A patch was published on 2026-08-11: Patches released: Linux v1.32.0 and Windows v32.0.100.4723 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-20731 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in device firmware.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20731?** Check whether you run Intel NPU Driver for Linux or Intel NPU Driver for Windows at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

This vulnerability is a buffer handling error (improper buffer restrictions) in the Intel NPU Driver that operates in Ring 3 (user application context). The attack vector is local, requires an authenticated user, and has low attack complexity with no user interaction needed. An unprivileged process can send crafted requests that violate buffer boundaries, causing denial of service through system instability or crash. The vulnerability impacts integrity (low) and availability (high) but not confidentiality. Patches are available: version 1.32.0 or later for Linux, and version 32.0.100.4723 or later for Windows.

## Affected products

- Intel NPU Driver for Linux before 1.32.0
- Intel NPU Driver for Windows before 32.0.100.4723

## Timeline

- 2026-08-11: disclosed: Advisory published by Intel (INTEL-SA-01456)
- 2026-08-11: patched: Patches released: Linux v1.32.0 and Windows v32.0.100.4723

## References

- [https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01456.html](https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01456.html)

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