CVE-2026-25194 in Slim Bootloader
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2026
Out-of-bounds write in the firmware for the Intel(R) Slim Bootloader may allow a denial of service. System software adversary with a privileged user combined with a low complexity attack may enable denial of service. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are 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 • 08/12/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical out-of-bounds write condition within the Intel Slim Bootloader firmware implementation that fundamentally compromises system stability and availability. This type of memory corruption flaw occurs when the bootloader attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, creating a scenario where malicious actors can potentially manipulate firmware execution flow or cause system crashes. The vulnerability specifically affects the firmware layer of Intel systems, which serves as the foundational software interface between hardware and operating systems, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to establish persistent control over system boot processes.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-787, which defines out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities as conditions where programs write data beyond the boundaries of allocated buffers or memory regions. In the context of firmware security, such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they operate at a privileged level where standard operating system protections may not apply. The attack vector requires only local access combined with a privileged user account, indicating that the vulnerability can be exploited through legitimate administrative access points rather than requiring complex external reconnaissance. This accessibility significantly reduces the attack surface and increases the potential for successful exploitation by adversaries who already possess elevated privileges within the system environment.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability manifests as a denial of service condition that directly affects system availability while maintaining minimal impact on confidentiality and integrity. The low complexity attack requirements mean that adversaries with basic administrative privileges can trigger system instability or complete boot failures, effectively rendering affected systems unusable until remediation occurs. The lack of user interaction requirements further simplifies exploitation, as the vulnerability can be triggered automatically without any end-user engagement. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK matrix under the T1068 technique category for "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and potentially T1499 for "Endpoint Denial of Service," demonstrating how firmware-level flaws can be leveraged to achieve broader operational disruption goals.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on firmware updates from Intel, as the flaw exists within the bootloader implementation itself. System administrators must prioritize immediate deployment of updated firmware versions that address the memory boundary checking deficiencies in the Slim Bootloader. Additionally, implementing runtime protection mechanisms such as memory protection units and stack canaries can provide additional layers of defense against similar buffer overflow conditions. Regular firmware auditing processes should be established to identify potential memory corruption vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, with particular attention to privilege escalation pathways that could lead to unauthorized firmware modification. Organizations should also consider maintaining secure boot policies that verify firmware integrity during system initialization, as this approach can prevent exploitation attempts even if the underlying vulnerability remains unpatched in certain environments. The absence of confidentiality and integrity impacts suggests that while this vulnerability primarily affects availability through denial of service, it does not directly enable data exfiltration or modification attacks, though it could serve as a precursor to more sophisticated multi-stage attacks targeting other system components.