# CVE-2026-20793: Intel QAT Windows Driver unchecked return value in Ring 3 applications

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20793-intel-qat-windows-driver-unchecked-return-value-in-ring-3  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-05-12. Updated: 2026-05-15  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-20793 · Severity: low · CVSS 3.3 · Published 2026-05-12

Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT) is a hardware acceleration technology used to speed up intensive tasks like data encryption and compression. A vulnerability in certain Windows drivers for this technology could allow a local user to cause a system crash or service interruption. This would result in a denial of service, potentially halting business operations that rely on these acceleration features.

Technologies: [Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT) Software Drivers for Windows](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/qat-software-drivers-for-windows), [Intel Quickassist Technology](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/quickassist-technology). Vendors: [Intel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/intel).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-20793 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-20793 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-20793?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 3.3, published 12 May 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT) Software Drivers for Windows before 1.13.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-20793?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-20793 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-20793?** Check whether you run Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT) Software Drivers for Windows, Intel QuickAssist Technology software drivers for Windows or Intel Quickassist Technology 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

A vulnerability classified as CWE-252 (Unchecked Return Value) exists in Intel QAT software drivers for Windows before version 1.13 within Ring 3 (User Applications). The flaw occurs when the driver fails to properly validate the return value of a function call, which can lead to unexpected behavior. An unprivileged, authenticated local adversary can exploit this with low complexity to trigger a denial of service. The attack requires no user interaction and no special internal knowledge of the system. Intel has released version 1.13 to mitigate this issue.

## Affected products

- Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT) software drivers for Windows before 1.13

## Timeline

- 2026-05-12: disclosed
- 2026-05-12: advisory

## References

- [https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01387.html](https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01387.html)

## Related threats

- [Intel QAT software drivers for Windows improper input validation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20767-intel-qat-software-drivers-for-windows-improper-input-validation)
- [Intel QAT software drivers for Windows out-of-bounds write](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20714-intel-qat-software-drivers-for-windows-out-of-bounds-write)
- [Intel QAT software drivers null pointer dereference](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20914-intel-qat-software-drivers-null-pointer-dereference)
- [Intel QAT software drivers improper input validation in Windows](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20905-intel-qat-software-drivers-improper-input-validation-in-windows)
- [Intel QAT software drivers divide by zero in Ring 3 User Applications](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-20881-intel-qat-software-drivers-divide-by-zero-in-ring-3-user)