CVE-2025-24838 is a vulnerability identified in Intel(R) CIP software prior to version WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001, involving improper privilege management within user-space (Ring 3) applications. Intel CIP (Common Industrial Platform) software is typically used in industrial and critical infrastructure environments for control and monitoring purposes. The flaw allows an authenticated user with low privileges to escalate their privileges through a network-accessible interface, without requiring user interaction or special internal knowledge. The attack complexity is low, meaning it can be executed with minimal effort by a threat actor who has valid credentials. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access, manipulate data, or disrupt system operations. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N) indicates network attack vector, low complexity, partial authentication, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the risk remains significant due to the nature of the software and its deployment in sensitive environments. The vulnerability was published on November 11, 2025, and Intel has released version WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001 as a fixed version, though patch links are not provided in the data. This vulnerability underscores the importance of privilege management in industrial software and the risks posed by authenticated but low-privilege users in networked environments.

For European organizations, especially those in industrial, manufacturing, energy, and critical infrastructure sectors, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Intel CIP software is often integrated into industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT) environments, where unauthorized privilege escalation can lead to severe operational disruptions, data breaches, or sabotage. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means attackers could exfiltrate sensitive operational data, alter control commands, or cause denial of service conditions. Given the network accessibility of the vulnerability and the lack of required user interaction, attackers could remotely exploit this flaw once authenticated, potentially leveraging stolen or weak credentials. This elevates the threat in environments with insufficient network segmentation or weak authentication controls. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits rapidly. European organizations must consider the potential for cascading effects on supply chains and critical services, making this vulnerability a priority for risk management and incident response planning.

1. Immediate upgrade to Intel CIP software version WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001 or later to apply the official patch addressing this vulnerability. 2. Implement strict network segmentation to isolate Intel CIP components from general IT networks and limit exposure to authenticated users only. 3. Enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), to reduce the risk of credential compromise and unauthorized access. 4. Monitor network traffic for unusual access patterns or privilege escalation attempts targeting Intel CIP services. 5. Conduct regular audits of user privileges within Intel CIP environments to ensure least privilege principles are enforced. 6. Employ intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) tuned to detect anomalous activities related to privilege escalation attempts. 7. Maintain up-to-date asset inventories to quickly identify and remediate vulnerable instances of Intel CIP software. 8. Develop and test incident response plans specific to industrial control system compromises to minimize operational impact. 9. Collaborate with Intel and relevant cybersecurity information sharing organizations for timely threat intelligence and patch updates.