CVE-2025-32088 in QAT Windows Software
Summary
by MITRE • 11/11/2025
Improper conditions check for some Intel(R) QAT Windows software before version 2.6.0. within Ring 3: User Applications may allow a denial of service. System software adversary with an authenticated user combined with a low complexity attack may enable denial of service. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are not present without special internal knowledge and requires no user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (none), integrity (none) and availability (low) 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 • 12/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-32088 represents a critical flaw in Intel's Quick Assist Technology QAT Windows software version 2.6.0 and earlier. This issue manifests as an improper conditions check within Ring 3 user applications, creating a pathway for denial of service attacks that can compromise system availability. The vulnerability operates at the application level rather than at the kernel level, yet its impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially affect entire system operations. The flaw specifically affects Intel QAT software implementations that process data acceleration tasks, which are commonly used in network security appliances, database systems, and enterprise applications requiring high-performance data processing capabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation checks within the software's condition evaluation mechanisms. When authenticated users execute specific operations within the QAT software environment, the improper conditions check allows for exploitation that can result in system resource exhaustion or application termination. This weakness aligns with CWE-252, which categorizes improper checks for error conditions, and represents a classic example of how inadequate input validation can lead to system instability. The attack vector requires local access and authentication, making it particularly concerning for environments where privileged accounts exist. The low complexity of the attack means that adversaries with minimal technical expertise can potentially exploit this vulnerability, while the lack of user interaction requirements increases the attack surface significantly.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a medium to high risk scenario for organizations relying on Intel QAT technology for data processing tasks. The potential for denial of service means that legitimate users may be unable to access critical applications or services that depend on QAT acceleration. The availability impact of low severity suggests that while the system may not completely crash, it could become unresponsive or significantly degraded in performance, affecting business continuity and operational efficiency. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, though this particular implementation occurs at the application layer rather than the network layer. Organizations utilizing QAT software for mission-critical operations may experience significant disruption if this vulnerability is exploited.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate software updates to version 2.6.0 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the improper conditions check. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitor for unauthorized authentication attempts, as the vulnerability requires authenticated access to exploit. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact of exploitation, while comprehensive logging and monitoring solutions should track anomalous behavior in QAT-related processes. The implementation of least privilege principles for accounts that interact with QAT software can reduce the attack surface, and regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other system components. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify patterns consistent with denial of service attacks targeting QAT implementations, as the vulnerability's exploitation may generate specific behavioral signatures that can be detected through proper monitoring protocols.