CVE-2026-20709

Physical privilege escalation via default hardware key

Published Apr 8, 2026 · Updated Apr 8, 2026

Use of a default cryptographic key in Intel Trace Hub on affected Gemini Lake processors allows physically proximate attackers to escalate privileges. The affected hardware relies on a default cryptographic key; publicly reported reverse engineering extracted an SGX device-specific key. Exploitation requires CPUID 706A1 or 706A8, physical access, privileged access, high complexity, and special internal knowledge; it compromises system confidentiality and subsequent confidentiality and integrity.

CVSS severity5.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.11%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use of a default cryptographic key in Intel Trace Hub on affected Gemini Lake processors allows physically proximate attackers to escalate privileges. The affected hardware relies on a default cryptographic key; publicly reported reverse engineering extracted an SGX device-specific key. Exploitation requires CPUID 706A1 or 706A8, physical access, privileged access, high complexity, and special internal knowledge; it compromises system confidentiality and subsequent confidentiality and integrity.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-20709
Published
Apr 8, 2026
Updated
Apr 8, 2026
Vendor
Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
Product
Intel Trace Hub
Classifications
CWE-1394
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 8, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=See references

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc. · Intel Trace Hubversion=See references

Published CVSS scores

5.8Intel CorporationCVSS:4.0/AV:P/AC:H/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N
6.6Intel CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1394Use of Default Cryptographic Key

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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