CVE-2025-32001 in Processor Identification Utility
Summary
by MITRE • 11/11/2025
Uncontrolled search path for the Intel(R) Processor Identification Utility before version 8.0.43 within Ring 3: User Applications may allow an escalation of privilege. System software adversary with an authenticated 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 without special internal knowledge and requires active user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (high), integrity (high) and availability (high) 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 • 11/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-32001 affects the Intel(R) Processor Identification Utility version 8.0.43 and earlier, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw within user-mode applications operating in Ring 3. This issue stems from improper handling of search paths during utility execution, creating a dangerous condition where malicious actors can manipulate the system's path resolution mechanism to load unauthorized code. The vulnerability specifically targets the utility's method of locating and executing dependent modules, exploiting a fundamental flaw in how the application resolves file paths without proper validation or sanitization of input sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic path traversal and dynamic link library injection attack vector where an authenticated user with local access can manipulate the search path to redirect execution flow toward malicious payloads. This flaw operates within the context of user applications rather than kernel-level components, yet the privilege escalation potential remains severe due to the utility's elevated permissions and system integration requirements. The attack requires minimal specialized knowledge but necessitates user interaction and local system access, making it particularly concerning for environments where user authentication is readily available. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path) and CWE-471 (Modification of Assumed-Immutable Data) highlights the fundamental design flaw in path resolution logic and the assumption that system paths remain unaltered during execution.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a high-severity threat to system security with potential consequences affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability at maximum levels. The system's confidentiality is at risk as attackers could gain access to sensitive information through privilege escalation, while integrity suffers from potential data manipulation and system compromise. Availability concerns arise from possible system instability or complete system compromise that could render services unavailable. The subsequent impacts on system confidentiality, integrity, and availability are rated as none, indicating that successful exploitation would result in complete system compromise with no residual protection mechanisms remaining. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges to system-level operations, and potentially deploy additional malware or backdoors within the compromised system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the Intel Processor Identification Utility to version 8.0.43 or later, which addresses the path resolution flaws through proper input validation and secure path handling mechanisms. Organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized binaries and establish strict path resolution procedures that prevent modification of critical system paths. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls should be enforced to limit local access opportunities for potential attackers. System monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious path resolution activities and unauthorized binary execution attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1068 (Local Port Scan) and T1548.002 (Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism) when exploited, making behavioral monitoring and anomaly detection particularly important for early detection of exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments should verify that no unauthorized modifications exist in system search paths and that proper access controls are maintained to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation scenarios.