CVE-2025-35972 in MPI Library
Summary
by MITRE • 11/11/2025
Uncontrolled search path for the Intel MPI Library before version 2021.16 within Ring 3: User Applications may allow an escalation of privilege. Unprivileged 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 • 12/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-35972 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Intel MPI Library version 2021.16 and earlier releases, specifically affecting Ring 3 User Applications. This issue stems from an uncontrolled search path mechanism that allows malicious actors to manipulate the library loading process and gain elevated system privileges. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector that requires an authenticated user with local access, making it particularly concerning for environments where multiple users share system resources. The attack complexity is classified as high, indicating that while the exploitation requires significant technical knowledge and resources, the potential for successful privilege escalation remains substantial.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of library search paths during the execution of user applications that utilize Intel MPI functionality. When applications attempt to load required shared libraries, the system searches through predetermined paths without adequate validation of the library sources or integrity checks. This behavior creates opportunities for attackers to place malicious libraries in directories that are searched before legitimate system locations, effectively enabling code injection and privilege escalation. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-427 Uncontrolled Search Path, which specifically addresses the dangerous practice of allowing arbitrary code execution through manipulated library loading sequences. This weakness allows attackers to subvert the intended execution flow and gain unauthorized administrative privileges on the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across all three fundamental security principles of information security. The high potential for confidentiality compromise means that attackers could gain access to sensitive data, proprietary information, and system secrets that should remain protected. Integrity risks are equally severe as the attacker could modify system files, corrupt data, or alter application behavior to maintain persistent access. Availability threats emerge from the possibility of system disruption or complete compromise through privilege escalation attacks that could render the system unusable or completely controlled by the adversary. The vulnerability's potential to affect system confidentiality, integrity, and availability at the base level creates cascading effects that could undermine entire organizational security postures and potentially lead to data breaches or system-wide compromises.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-35972 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary solution involves updating to Intel MPI Library version 2021.16 or later, which includes proper search path validation and enhanced library loading mechanisms. Organizations should implement strict library path controls, ensuring that only trusted and verified libraries are loaded by applications. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by configuring user applications to operate with minimal required permissions and by implementing proper access controls on library directories. Additionally, system administrators should conduct regular security audits to identify and remove any unauthorized library modifications or suspicious file placements. The mitigation approach should align with ATT&CK framework techniques T1068 Privilege Escalation and T1574 Hijacking Execution Flow, emphasizing the importance of validating library integrity and controlling application execution paths to prevent unauthorized code loading and privilege escalation.