CVE-2025-20095 is a vulnerability identified in Intel(R) RealSense™ SDK software versions prior to 2.56.2. The issue arises due to incorrect default permissions set within the SDK software, which can be exploited by an authenticated local user to escalate their privileges. Specifically, the vulnerability allows a user with limited privileges (low-level privileges) to potentially gain higher privileges on the affected system. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, and the attack complexity is high, meaning exploitation is not trivial but feasible under certain conditions. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 5.4, categorizing this as a medium severity vulnerability. The vector details indicate that the attack requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), privileges required are low (PR:L), and user interaction is needed (UI:A). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (VC:H, VI:H, VA:H), indicating that successful exploitation could lead to significant compromise of system security. The vulnerability does not affect system components remotely and does not involve scope changes or privilege escalation beyond the local system context. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or vendor advisories are linked yet. Intel RealSense SDK is used primarily for computer vision applications, including depth sensing and gesture recognition, often integrated into hardware and software solutions for robotics, AR/VR, and other interactive systems. The vulnerability could allow an attacker to bypass security controls and execute unauthorized actions with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the host system or enabling further attacks.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability depends on the extent to which Intel RealSense SDK is deployed within their environments. Organizations involved in robotics, industrial automation, AR/VR development, and advanced computer vision applications are more likely to be affected. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized privilege escalation, allowing attackers to manipulate sensitive data, disrupt operations, or install persistent malware. This is particularly concerning for sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, research institutions, and defense contractors that may use RealSense technology for critical applications. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk from insider threats or scenarios where attackers gain physical or remote desktop access. Given the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, successful exploitation could lead to data breaches, operational downtime, or compromise of intellectual property. European organizations with strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) could face compliance risks if this vulnerability is exploited to leak personal or sensitive data.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately identify and inventory all systems running Intel RealSense SDK software versions prior to 2.56.2. 2) Apply updates or patches from Intel as soon as they become available to address the incorrect default permissions. 3) Restrict local access to systems running the vulnerable SDK to trusted users only, enforcing strict access controls and monitoring for unusual activity. 4) Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect privilege escalation attempts and anomalous behavior related to RealSense SDK processes. 5) Conduct user training to reduce the risk of social engineering or inadvertent user interaction that could facilitate exploitation. 6) Employ application whitelisting and least privilege principles to limit the ability of users and processes to modify SDK-related files or configurations. 7) Regularly audit permissions and configurations on systems using RealSense SDK to ensure they conform to security best practices. 8) For critical environments, consider network segmentation and physical security measures to limit local access opportunities. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific context of local privilege escalation via SDK permission misconfigurations.