CVE-2026-20737 in PROSet
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2026
Exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor for some Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows within Ring 2: Device Drivers may allow an escalation of privilege. Unprivileged software adversary with an unauthenticated user combined with a low complexity attack may enable local code execution. 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 (low), integrity (none) and availability (none) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (high), integrity (low) and availability (low) impacts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows, specifically targeting components operating at Ring 2 level through device drivers. The security weakness stems from improper access controls that expose sensitive system information to unauthorized actors, creating a pathway for unprivileged users to gain elevated privileges. According to CWE-200, this constitutes an information exposure vulnerability where confidential data is accessible beyond intended authorization boundaries.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when device drivers fail to properly validate access permissions for sensitive memory regions or system resources. Attackers can exploit this by leveraging local access to manipulate driver interfaces, potentially accessing kernel-level data structures or configuration parameters that should remain protected. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes "Local Port Scan" and related privilege escalation methods. The attack vector requires minimal complexity as it operates from a low-privilege user context without requiring authentication or user interaction.
The operational impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise through local code execution capabilities. While the initial attack requires local access and specific internal knowledge about driver interfaces, once achieved, the privilege escalation allows adversaries to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The confidentiality impact is rated high because attackers can access sensitive system data that was previously protected by proper access controls. Integrity impact remains low as the vulnerability primarily enables privilege escalation rather than direct modification of critical system components, though the potential for subsequent integrity violations exists.
Mitigation strategies should focus on restricting driver access permissions and implementing proper input validation within device drivers. System administrators should ensure Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software is updated to versions that address this vulnerability through proper privilege control mechanisms. Network segmentation and user access controls can limit potential exploitation opportunities, while monitoring for unusual driver access patterns may help detect attempted exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in kernel-mode components and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of device drivers. Organizations should implement least-privilege principles for all system components and regularly review access controls to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation scenarios that could lead to complete system compromise.