CVE-2026-20752 in PROSet
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2026
Improper authentication for some Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software within Ring 0: Kernel may allow an information disclosure. System software adversary with a privileged user combined with a low complexity attack may enable data exposure. 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 (high), integrity (none) and availability (none) 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 • 08/12/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical authorization flaw within Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software that operates at kernel level privileges, specifically within Ring 0 execution context. The issue stems from inadequate authentication mechanisms that fail to properly validate user credentials when processing privileged operations. According to CWE-287, this constitutes improper authentication which allows unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability exists in the wireless network management software components that handle kernel-level operations, creating a potential attack vector where malicious actors could exploit the flawed privilege escalation mechanisms.
The technical implementation flaw manifests as insufficient validation of user privileges during critical system operations, enabling a local attacker with existing user credentials to potentially extract confidential information from kernel memory spaces. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where the software fails to properly enforce access controls between user-mode and kernel-mode execution environments. The attack requires minimal complexity but demands elevated privileges from an already compromised user account, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which focuses on local privilege escalation through kernel exploits. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it operates within the most privileged execution ring where system integrity is paramount.
Operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise entire network security postures. A system software adversary who has already established a foothold as a privileged user can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive configuration data, wireless network credentials, or other confidential system information that would normally be protected at kernel level. The confidentiality impact is rated as high because the vulnerability directly enables unauthorized access to critical system secrets and configuration parameters. While integrity and availability are not directly affected by this specific disclosure flaw, the exposure of sensitive information could lead to cascading security issues that ultimately compromise all three security properties.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate software updates from Intel to address the authentication bypass mechanisms within PROSet/Wireless WiFi components. System administrators must ensure complete patch management across all affected wireless network interfaces and implement strict access controls limiting user privileges where possible. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual information disclosure patterns, particularly around kernel-level memory access events. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as mandatory access controls or privilege separation mechanisms to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-287 underscores the need for robust authentication frameworks that properly validate all system access requests regardless of user context or existing privileges.