CVE-2025-31936 in Xeon 6 processors
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2026
Improper handling of overlap between protected memory ranges for some Intel(R) Xeon(R) 6 processors when using Intel(R) TDX within SMM may allow an escalation of privilege. SMM adversary with a privileged user combined with a high complexity attack may enable escalation of privilege. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are present with special internal knowledge and requires no user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (high), integrity (high) and availability (none) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (none), integrity (none) and availability (none) impacts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw affecting Intel Xeon 6 processors when operating within Intel Trust Domain Extensions (TDX) environments alongside System Management Mode (SMM). The issue stems from improper memory management handling where protected memory ranges overlap in ways that create exploitable conditions. When Intel TDX is active, the processor's memory protection mechanisms fail to properly account for overlapping regions, creating potential attack vectors that can be leveraged by adversaries with elevated privileges.
The technical implementation flaw occurs within the SMM subsystem where Intel TDX's memory management protocols do not adequately address scenarios involving overlapping protected memory ranges. This overlap creates a condition where malicious actors can potentially access memory regions they should not have permission to reach, particularly when combined with existing privileged user access. The vulnerability requires specific internal knowledge and specialized attack conditions to exploit successfully, but once achieved, it provides a pathway for privilege escalation from user-level to system-level access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to system security because it operates through local access methods without requiring user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in environments where privileged accounts may be compromised. The attack complexity is classified as high, suggesting that exploitation requires specialized knowledge and potentially sophisticated techniques, but the potential impact is severe given that it can affect both confidentiality and integrity of the entire system. The vulnerability's design allows for escalation from a privileged user position to full system compromise.
The security implications extend beyond immediate privilege elevation, as this flaw can ultimately lead to complete system compromise with cascading effects on data protection and system integrity. Attackers could potentially access sensitive information or modify critical system components, fundamentally undermining the security model that Intel TDX is designed to provide. The confidentiality impact is rated high because successful exploitation would allow unauthorized access to protected memory areas containing sensitive data, while the integrity impact is equally severe as it enables modification of system-critical components.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates from Intel addressing the specific SMM memory handling issues, along with implementing additional security controls such as memory access monitoring and privilege enforcement mechanisms. Organizations should also consider disabling Intel TDX functionality if not essential for operations until patches are fully deployed and validated. Compliance with industry standards including CWE-129 for improper input validation and ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access should be considered when implementing defensive measures. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management in virtualized environments and underscores the need for rigorous security testing of processor-level features that interact with system management modes.