CVE-2025-31938 in Xeon 6 Scalable processors
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2026
Insufficient granularity of access control in some subsystem for some Intel(R) Xeon(R) 6 Scalable processors with Intel(R) TDX may allow an information disclosure. Authorized adversary with an authenticated user combined with a high complexity attack may enable data exposure. 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 (none), integrity (none) and availability (none) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (high), integrity (none) and availability (none) impacts.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical access control weakness in Intel Xeon 6 Scalable processors that incorporate Intel Trust Domain Extensions technology. The flaw manifests as insufficient granularity in access control mechanisms within specific subsystems of these processors, creating potential pathways for unauthorized information disclosure. The vulnerability requires an authenticated user context combined with a high complexity attack vector to achieve exploitation, indicating that while the initial access requirement is relatively straightforward, the technical implementation necessary to leverage the flaw presents significant challenges. The attack can potentially be executed through local access methods when specific internal knowledge requirements are met, suggesting that this vulnerability may be exploitable by adversaries who already possess some level of system authentication credentials.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in computing systems. When properly exploited, this weakness could enable an attacker to extract sensitive data from the processor's memory or internal subsystems that should remain protected. The attack scenario requires special internal knowledge, indicating that this is not a simple privilege escalation vulnerability but rather one that exploits specific architectural characteristics of Intel TDX implementations. The lack of user interaction requirements suggests this could be particularly concerning as it does not depend on social engineering or user deception tactics.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to potentially compromise the fundamental confidentiality guarantees that Intel TDX technology is designed to provide. While the immediate system integrity and availability impacts are rated as none, the subsequent effects on system confidentiality are classified as high, indicating that successful exploitation could lead to significant data breaches or information disclosure events. This represents a serious concern for organizations relying on Intel Xeon 6 processors with TDX capabilities for secure computing environments where confidential data processing is critical.
Organizations should implement mitigation strategies including firmware updates from Intel when available, enhanced monitoring of authentication and access patterns, and careful review of system configurations to minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK tactic TA0001 (Initial Access) and technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) highlights the importance of maintaining strict access control policies and conducting regular security assessments of processor-level implementations. Security teams should also consider implementing additional network segmentation measures and enhanced logging capabilities to detect potential exploitation attempts. The complexity requirements for exploitation suggest that while this vulnerability may not be widely exploited in the wild, it represents a significant risk for targeted attacks against high-value systems where adversaries possess sufficient technical knowledge and access credentials to attempt leveraging these processor-level weaknesses.