# CVE-2026-20769: Intel NPU Driver improper conditions check denial of service

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20769-intel-npu-driver-improper-conditions-check-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-2026-20769 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.1 · Published 2026-08-11

Intel's NPU (Neural Processing Unit) Driver contains a logic flaw that allows authenticated local users to crash or disrupt system availability. An unprivileged attacker with legitimate user access can trigger the vulnerability with minimal effort, rendering the system or NPU functionality unavailable until rebooted. This impacts users relying on NPU hardware acceleration for AI/ML workloads.

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-2026-20769 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20769 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20769?** 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-2026-20769?** A patch was published on 2026-08-11: Linux driver 1.32.0 and Windows driver 32.0.100.4723 released Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-20769 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20769?** 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

The vulnerability is an improper conditions check in the Intel NPU Driver Ring 3 (user-mode) components, leading to a denial of service condition. Attack requires local access and authenticated user privileges (low complexity, no special knowledge). An attacker can send a specially crafted request that bypasses validation logic, causing a crash or system hang with high availability impact. Patches are available: Linux drivers version 1.32.0+ and Windows drivers version 32.0.100.4723+.

## 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: Public advisory INTEL-SA-01456 released
- 2026-08-11: patched: Linux driver 1.32.0 and Windows driver 32.0.100.4723 released

## 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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