CVE-2025-20629 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting the Intel(R) Ethernet Network Adapter E810 Series, specifically versions of the NVM Update Utility prior to 4.60. The vulnerability arises due to insecure inherited permissions within the utility, which is used to update the non-volatile memory (NVM) firmware of the network adapter. An authenticated user with local access to a system running the vulnerable utility may exploit this flaw to escalate their privileges. The escalation occurs because the utility inherits permissions insecurely, potentially allowing a user with limited privileges to gain higher-level access, such as administrative or system-level rights. This vulnerability requires local authentication and user interaction, and the attack complexity is high, indicating that exploitation is not trivial but feasible under certain conditions. The CVSS 4.0 base score of 5.4 reflects a medium severity, with significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability if exploited, but mitigated somewhat by the need for local access and authentication. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no patches or mitigation links were provided in the source information, though it is implied that updating to version 4.60 or later of the NVM Update Utility would remediate the issue.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily in environments where Intel E810 Ethernet adapters are deployed, particularly in enterprise data centers, cloud infrastructure, and high-performance networking setups. Successful exploitation could allow a malicious insider or compromised user account to gain elevated privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized configuration changes, firmware tampering, or disruption of network services. This could compromise the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data traversing the network and impact availability if network adapters are disabled or misconfigured. Given the critical role of network adapters in infrastructure, such privilege escalation could facilitate lateral movement within networks, increasing the risk of broader compromise. Organizations with strict regulatory requirements around data protection (e.g., GDPR) may face compliance risks if such vulnerabilities are exploited. However, the requirement for local authenticated access limits the threat primarily to insiders or attackers who have already breached perimeter defenses.

European organizations should prioritize updating the NVM Update Utility for Intel Ethernet Network Adapter E810 Series to version 4.60 or later as soon as possible to eliminate the insecure permission inheritance issue. Until updates are applied, organizations should enforce strict access controls on systems with these adapters, limiting local user accounts and ensuring that only trusted administrators have access to the utility. Implementing robust endpoint security measures, including application whitelisting and monitoring for unusual privilege escalation attempts, can help detect and prevent exploitation. Additionally, organizations should audit and harden permissions on the NVM Update Utility executable and related files to prevent unauthorized modification or execution by low-privilege users. Regular vulnerability scanning and asset inventory to identify affected systems will aid in timely remediation. Finally, educating IT staff about the risks of local privilege escalation and maintaining strict physical security controls will reduce the likelihood of exploitation.