CVE-2025-20043 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Intel(R) RealSense™ SDK software versions prior to 2.56.2. The issue arises from an uncontrolled search path within the SDK, which can be exploited by an authenticated user with local access to escalate their privileges. Specifically, the vulnerability allows a user with low-level privileges to potentially execute code or load malicious components by manipulating the search path used by the software to locate dependencies or modules. This can lead to unauthorized actions beyond the user's original permission scope. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, and the attack complexity is high, indicating that exploitation is not trivial but feasible under certain conditions. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N) reflects that the attack requires local access, high attack complexity, partial authentication, and user interaction, with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches or mitigation links have been provided yet. Intel reserved the CVE in early 2025 and published it in May 2025, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. The vulnerability specifically targets the RealSense SDK, which is used for applications involving depth sensing, computer vision, and related functionalities, often integrated into robotics, industrial automation, and advanced user interfaces.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability depends on the extent of Intel RealSense SDK deployment within their environments. Organizations leveraging RealSense technology in robotics, manufacturing automation, healthcare imaging, or interactive systems could face risks of privilege escalation attacks by insiders or compromised local users. Such escalation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical processes, or installation of persistent malicious code. Given the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, exploitation could result in data breaches, operational downtime, or manipulation of sensor data leading to incorrect automated decisions. The requirement for local access and user interaction somewhat limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate insider threat risks. European organizations with strict regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR) may face compliance and reputational consequences if this vulnerability is exploited to compromise personal data or critical infrastructure. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not preclude future attacks, especially as threat actors often develop exploits after public disclosure.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should: 1) Identify all systems and applications using Intel RealSense SDK versions prior to 2.56.2 through asset inventories and software audits. 2) Apply updates to version 2.56.2 or later as soon as Intel releases official patches. 3) Until patches are available, restrict local access to systems running vulnerable SDK versions by enforcing strict access controls and monitoring user activities. 4) Implement application whitelisting and integrity verification to detect unauthorized modifications or loading of malicious modules. 5) Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted files or components that could exploit the search path vulnerability. 6) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for suspicious behaviors indicative of privilege escalation attempts. 7) Review and harden system configurations to minimize attack surface, including limiting the directories included in the search path or using environment variables securely. 8) Coordinate with Intel and security advisories to stay informed about patches and exploit developments.