diff --git a/pod-security/restricted/disallow-privilege-escalation/disallow-privilege-escalation.yaml b/pod-security/restricted/disallow-privilege-escalation/disallow-privilege-escalation.yaml
index ec7bd217..67d7bc7e 100644
--- a/pod-security/restricted/disallow-privilege-escalation/disallow-privilege-escalation.yaml
+++ b/pod-security/restricted/disallow-privilege-escalation/disallow-privilege-escalation.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ metadata:
   annotations:
     policies.kyverno.io/title: Disallow Privilege Escalation
     policies.kyverno.io/category: Pod Security Standards (Restricted)
-    policies.kyverno.io/severity: medium
+    policies.kyverno.io/severity: critical
     policies.kyverno.io/subject: Pod
     kyverno.io/kubernetes-version: "1.22-1.23"
     policies.nirmata.io/remediation-docs: "https://docs.nirmata.io/policysets/podsecurity/restricted/disallow-privilege-escalation/"