CVE-2025-20039 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows versions prior to 23.100. The vulnerability arises from a race condition within the software, which can be triggered by an unauthenticated attacker with adjacent network access. This race condition may allow the attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition, potentially disrupting wireless connectivity or causing the affected system to become unresponsive. The vulnerability does not require authentication but does require user interaction, such as the victim connecting to a malicious or compromised WiFi network or being within wireless range of an attacker. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates an attack vector of adjacent network (AV:A), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), partial user interaction (UI:P), and a high impact on availability (VA:H), with no impact on confidentiality or integrity. The flaw is specific to Intel's PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software, which is widely used to manage Intel wireless adapters on Windows platforms. Exploitation could lead to service interruptions, impacting network availability and potentially causing operational disruptions for users relying on wireless connectivity. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigation links have been provided yet, indicating that organizations should monitor for updates and apply patches promptly once available.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could disrupt wireless network availability, affecting business continuity, especially in environments heavily reliant on Intel wireless adapters managed by PROSet software. Industries such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure, which depend on stable wireless connectivity for operational technology or mobile workforce productivity, may experience degraded service or temporary outages. The denial of service could also impact remote work scenarios, which remain prevalent in Europe, potentially reducing employee productivity and increasing support costs. Although the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact could indirectly affect security monitoring, incident response, and access to critical applications. The requirement for adjacent access limits exploitation to attackers within wireless range, which somewhat reduces the risk of large-scale remote attacks but does not eliminate targeted local threats, including insider threats or attackers in public or corporate WiFi environments.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigations: 1) Inventory and identify all systems using Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software versions prior to 23.100. 2) Monitor Intel’s official channels for the release of patches addressing CVE-2025-20039 and apply updates promptly to all affected endpoints. 3) Implement network segmentation and wireless access controls to limit exposure to untrusted adjacent networks, including guest WiFi isolation and strong authentication mechanisms. 4) Educate users about the risks of connecting to unknown or unsecured wireless networks to reduce the likelihood of user interaction required for exploitation. 5) Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous wireless adapter behavior or service interruptions. 6) Consider temporary disabling or restricting Intel PROSet features if patching is delayed and wireless connectivity is critical. 7) Maintain robust incident response plans to quickly address any denial of service incidents impacting wireless connectivity.