CVE-2025-32003 in 100GbE Intel Ethernet Network Adapter E810
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2026
Out-of-bounds read in the firmware for some 100GbE Intel(R) Ethernet Network Adapter E810 before version cvl fw 1.7.6, cpk 1.3.7 within Ring 0: Bare Metal OS may allow a denial of service. Network adversary with an authenticated user combined with a low complexity attack may enable denial of service. This result may potentially occur via network 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 (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 • 03/17/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds read condition within the firmware of Intel's 100GbE Ethernet Network Adapter E810 series, specifically affecting firmware versions prior to cvl fw 1.7.6 and cpk 1.3.7. The flaw exists within the Ring 0 execution context, indicating it operates at the highest privilege level of the operating system, which fundamentally elevates the severity of potential exploitation. The vulnerability manifests as a memory access violation that occurs when the firmware processes network packets, potentially allowing an attacker to read memory locations outside the intended bounds of the allocated buffers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient validation of the boundaries of a buffer, and represents a classic example of memory safety issues that can lead to system instability.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires only authenticated network access combined with low complexity attack techniques, making it accessible to adversaries who have gained network credentials. The attack does not require user interaction, which means it can be exploited autonomously once the prerequisites are met. The vulnerability's impact is classified as high availability impact, indicating that successful exploitation can lead to complete denial of service conditions where the network adapter becomes unresponsive or the entire system may crash. The security implications extend beyond simple service disruption as this vulnerability affects the fundamental operating capabilities of the network infrastructure, potentially compromising network connectivity for critical systems that rely on high-speed 100GbE connections.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise network infrastructure where Intel E810 adapters are deployed, particularly in data centers, high-performance computing environments, and network core systems. The potential for denial of service attacks to disable critical network connectivity can result in cascading failures across interconnected systems, potentially affecting business continuity and operational efficiency. The fact that this vulnerability exists in firmware rather than application code means that traditional software patching approaches may not be sufficient, requiring firmware-level updates that often involve system downtime and careful deployment planning. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a specific implementation weakness that can be leveraged by adversaries to achieve system availability compromise.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates to versions 1.7.6 and 1.3.7 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the out-of-bounds read condition. Network administrators should implement strict access controls to limit network authentication credentials and reduce the attack surface available to potential adversaries. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous network behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around network packet processing and memory access patterns. The vulnerability's classification as a Ring 0 issue necessitates careful consideration of the entire system security posture, as exploitation could potentially lead to privilege escalation and broader system compromise. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while maintaining detailed audit logs to support forensic analysis if incidents occur. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of firmware security in network infrastructure components and underscores the need for continuous security assessment of all system layers including hardware and firmware components that operate with elevated privileges.