CVE-2025-24848 identifies a protection mechanism failure in Intel(R) CIP software versions before WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001, specifically within Ring 3 user applications. This vulnerability enables an escalation of privilege attack where an unprivileged software adversary, combined with a privileged user context, can elevate their privileges. The attack requires local access and passive user interaction, with a high complexity level, meaning it is not trivial to exploit but feasible under certain conditions. The flaw lies in the failure of the software’s protection mechanisms to properly isolate or restrict user-level processes, allowing privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level within the vulnerable software environment, potentially allowing attackers to compromise sensitive data, alter system states, or disrupt operations. However, the impact does not extend beyond the compromised system to other systems or network segments. No public exploits have been reported, and Intel has not yet provided patch links, indicating mitigation may rely on updates in future software versions. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:H/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H) indicates local attack vector, high attack complexity, partial attack type, requires privileged user rights, and user interaction, with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk primarily in environments where Intel CIP software is deployed, such as industrial control systems, enterprise applications, or specialized computing environments. The escalation of privilege can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, manipulation of critical processes, and potential disruption of services. Confidentiality breaches could expose proprietary or personal data, violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. Integrity compromises may affect operational reliability, especially in industrial or critical infrastructure sectors, potentially leading to safety hazards or financial losses. Availability impacts could cause downtime or degraded service performance. The requirement for local access and privileged user context limits remote exploitation but increases risk from insider threats or compromised user accounts. European organizations with complex IT environments and stringent compliance requirements must consider this vulnerability a medium risk that could escalate if combined with other attack vectors.

1. Immediately plan and deploy updates to Intel CIP software once patches are released for version WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001 or later. 2. Restrict local access to systems running vulnerable Intel CIP software to trusted personnel only, enforcing strict access controls and monitoring. 3. Implement robust user privilege management to minimize the number of privileged users and enforce least privilege principles. 4. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for unusual privilege escalation attempts or suspicious user activity locally. 5. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments focusing on local privilege escalation vectors. 6. Educate users about the risks of passive interaction with untrusted software or processes, as user interaction is required for exploitation. 7. Isolate critical systems running Intel CIP software from general user environments to reduce exposure. 8. Maintain comprehensive logging and alerting to detect potential exploitation attempts early. 9. Coordinate with Intel and subscribe to their security advisories for timely updates and patches. 10. Consider implementing application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized software execution that could leverage this vulnerability.