CVE-2026-20751: Intel Data Center Graphics Driver DoS Flaw

CVE-2026-20751 Overview

CVE-2026-20751 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the Intel Data Center Graphics Driver for VMware ESXi software before version 2.0.2. The flaw resides within Ring 1: Device Drivers and can be triggered by a local adversary holding privileged user access. Successful exploitation can lead to denial of service and exposure of sensitive memory contents from the hypervisor environment. The weakness is tracked under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and was published to the National Vulnerability Database on 2026-05-12. Intel documented the issue in Intel Security Advisory SA-01402.

Critical Impact

A privileged local attacker can read out-of-bounds memory in the Intel Data Center Graphics Driver for VMware ESXi, causing denial of service and high-impact confidentiality and availability loss across the affected host.

Affected Products

• Intel Data Center Graphics Driver for VMware ESXi versions prior to 2.0.2
• VMware ESXi hosts running the vulnerable Intel graphics driver in Ring 1
• Systems using Intel Data Center GPU hardware managed by the affected driver

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-05-12 - CVE-2026-20751 published to the National Vulnerability Database
• 2026-05-13 - Last updated in the NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-20751

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read in the Intel Data Center Graphics Driver for VMware ESXi software before version 2.0.2. The defective code path executes within Ring 1: Device Drivers, giving the affected logic privileged access to hypervisor memory regions. When the driver processes attacker-influenced input without enforcing correct buffer boundaries, it reads memory outside the intended allocation. The result is two-fold: the driver can return adjacent memory contents to the caller, producing data exposure, and it can terminate or destabilize the driver, producing a denial of service. The advisory rates confidentiality impact and availability impact as high, while integrity is not affected. Subsequent system impacts on confidentiality and availability are also rated high, reflecting the privileged context of Ring 1 device drivers within ESXi.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or incorrect bounds validation on a buffer accessed by the Intel Data Center Graphics Driver. The driver dereferences memory beyond the allocated region, which matches the pattern described in CWE-125. Because the driver operates within a privileged execution ring, exposed bytes may contain hypervisor or guest-related data.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access to the ESXi host and a privileged user account that can interact with the vulnerable driver interface. The advisory describes a low complexity attack with no user interaction required. An adversary with administrative privileges on the host can invoke the affected driver path to trigger the out-of-bounds read, exfiltrate memory contents, or crash the driver to cause service disruption. The vulnerability cannot be exploited remotely without prior local code execution and elevated privileges. Refer to Intel Security Advisory SA-01402 for vendor-confirmed technical details. No public proof-of-concept code or exploit has been documented at the time of publication.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-20751

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected crashes, hangs, or kernel panics in ESXi hosts that load the Intel Data Center Graphics Driver
• VMkernel log entries referencing faults inside the Intel graphics driver module prior to host instability
• Anomalous privileged sessions issuing repeated ioctl-style calls against the graphics driver interface

Detection Strategies

• Inventory ESXi hosts using esxcli software vib list to identify installations of the Intel Data Center Graphics Driver below version 2.0.2
• Monitor VMkernel and vmkwarning.log for repeated Intel graphics driver exceptions or stack traces
• Correlate privileged shell access on ESXi with driver-related errors using centralized log aggregation

Monitoring Recommendations

• Forward ESXi host logs to a centralized SIEM and alert on driver crash signatures or unexpected vmkernel panics
• Track changes to ESXi VIB inventory and flag hosts that fall behind on the Intel driver patch level
• Audit which administrators hold privileged access to ESXi hosts and review session activity for unusual driver interactions

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-20751

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade the Intel Data Center Graphics Driver for VMware ESXi to version 2.0.2 or later on all affected hosts
• Restrict privileged ESXi access to a minimal set of administrators and enforce multi-factor authentication on management interfaces
• Review ESXi host logs for prior driver crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Intel has released a fixed version of the Intel Data Center Graphics Driver for VMware ESXi. Upgrade to version 2.0.2 or later as documented in Intel Security Advisory SA-01402. Apply the update following standard ESXi maintenance procedures, including placing hosts into maintenance mode and migrating workloads before driver replacement.

Workarounds

• Limit local and privileged access to ESXi hosts so that only trusted administrators can load or interact with the vulnerable driver
• Where Intel Data Center GPU functionality is not required, remove the affected VIB until the patched driver can be deployed
• Segment management networks for ESXi hosts to reduce the chance of an attacker reaching a position of local privileged access