CVE-2026-27765 Overview
CVE-2026-27765 is an improper input validation flaw [CWE-20] affecting the vLLM Hardware Plugin for Intel(R) Gaudi(R) software before version 0.16.0. The vulnerability resides in Ring 3 user application space and allows a locally authenticated adversary to trigger a denial of service. Exploitation requires low attack complexity and low privileges, with no user interaction. Successful attacks affect only availability. Confidentiality and integrity remain intact. Intel disclosed the issue in Intel Security Advisory SA-01487.
Critical Impact
An authenticated local user can crash or hang the vLLM Hardware Plugin for Intel Gaudi, disrupting inference workloads running on affected accelerators.
Affected Products
- vLLM Hardware Plugin for Intel(R) Gaudi(R) software versions prior to 0.16.0
- Deployments using Intel Gaudi accelerators for large language model inference
- Systems integrating the affected plugin into vLLM serving stacks
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-11 - CVE-2026-27765 published to NVD
- 2026-08-12 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-27765
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from improper validation of input received by the vLLM Hardware Plugin for Intel Gaudi software. The plugin operates in Ring 3 user application space and processes requests submitted through the vLLM serving interface. Malformed or unexpected input passes through validation logic without being rejected. This condition causes the plugin to fail in a way that terminates or hangs the inference process. The impact is limited to availability; the plugin does not leak data or corrupt state. Downstream systems that depend on the plugin lose access to inference capabilities during exploitation.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient input validation [CWE-20] within the plugin. Input values that should be rejected or sanitized reach code paths that assume well-formed data. When those assumptions fail, the plugin enters an error state that halts availability.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local access and an authenticated user account with low privileges. The attacker sends crafted input to the plugin through its normal interface. No special knowledge of internal state is required, and no user interaction is needed to trigger the fault. Because the vector is local rather than network-based, exposure is limited to users with existing access to the host running the Gaudi plugin.
No public proof-of-concept or exploit code is available for this vulnerability. Refer to Intel Security Advisory SA-01487 for vendor-supplied technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-27765
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected termination or hang of the vLLM Hardware Plugin process on Intel Gaudi hosts
- Repeated inference request failures correlated with a single authenticated user
- Error messages or stack traces from the plugin indicating malformed input handling
Detection Strategies
- Monitor vLLM plugin process lifecycle events for abnormal exits or restarts on Gaudi-enabled hosts
- Correlate authentication logs with inference-service outages to identify the account associated with the disruption
- Baseline normal request payloads to the plugin and flag anomalous request structures or sizes
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest host logs, plugin logs, and Gaudi driver telemetry into a centralized analytics platform for correlation
- Alert on repeated plugin crashes within a short window from the same user or source process
- Track inference request latency and error rates to identify degradation patterns consistent with denial of service
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-27765
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade the vLLM Hardware Plugin for Intel Gaudi software to version 0.16.0 or later
- Inventory all hosts running Intel Gaudi accelerators and confirm plugin versions in use
- Restrict local access to Gaudi inference hosts to trusted operational accounts only
Patch Information
Intel addresses the vulnerability in vLLM Hardware Plugin for Intel(R) Gaudi(R) software version 0.16.0. Consult Intel Security Advisory SA-01487 for the authoritative fix details and download locations.
Workarounds
- Enforce least-privilege access controls on hosts running the affected plugin to limit which authenticated users can submit requests
- Apply request rate limiting and input validation at an upstream API gateway or proxy in front of the vLLM service
- Isolate inference workloads on dedicated hosts to reduce the blast radius of a plugin crash
# Verify installed plugin version before and after upgrade
pip show vllm-hpu-plugin | grep -i version
# Upgrade to the fixed release
pip install --upgrade 'vllm-hpu-plugin>=0.16.0'
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
