CVE-2025-24851 identifies a denial of service vulnerability in the firmware of Intel's 100GbE Ethernet Controller E810, specifically in firmware versions before cvl fw 1.7.8.x. The vulnerability is caused by an uncaught exception within the firmware operating at Ring 0 privilege level on Bare Metal OS platforms. This low complexity attack can be triggered by a system software adversary possessing privileged user access, requiring local access but no user interaction or special internal knowledge. The flaw leads to a denial of service condition, severely impacting the availability of the affected system. Confidentiality and integrity remain unaffected. The vulnerability is rated medium severity with a CVSS 4.0 score of 6.0, reflecting its local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no required authentication (PR:H), no user interaction (UI:N), and high impact on availability (VA:H). No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability poses a risk to environments relying on Intel E810 controllers for high-speed networking, especially in data centers and enterprise bare metal deployments. The lack of patch links suggests that mitigation relies on firmware updates from Intel, specifically upgrading to version 1.7.8.x or later.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could disrupt critical network infrastructure relying on Intel 100GbE Ethernet Controller E810 hardware, particularly in data centers, cloud providers, and enterprises with high-speed networking needs. The denial of service condition could lead to network outages, degraded performance, or service interruptions impacting business continuity and operational efficiency. While confidentiality and integrity are not compromised, availability impacts can affect customer-facing services, internal communications, and data transfer processes. Organizations with bare metal OS deployments and privileged local users are at higher risk. The medium severity rating indicates a moderate threat level, but the potential for disruption in high-throughput environments elevates the operational risk. Given the local access requirement, insider threats or compromised administrative accounts could exploit this vulnerability. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for proactive mitigation.

European organizations should immediately inventory their network infrastructure to identify Intel 100GbE Ethernet Controller E810 devices running vulnerable firmware versions prior to cvl fw 1.7.8.x. Coordinate with Intel or hardware vendors to obtain and deploy the latest firmware updates that address this vulnerability. Restrict privileged user access to trusted personnel and implement strict access controls to minimize the risk of local exploitation. Employ monitoring and alerting for unusual system software behavior or network disruptions that may indicate attempted exploitation. Consider network segmentation to isolate critical infrastructure and reduce the attack surface. Regularly review and update security policies governing privileged account management and firmware update procedures. Engage with Intel support channels for any additional mitigation guidance or patches. As no user interaction is required, focus on securing local administrative environments and enforcing least privilege principles. Maintain backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from potential denial of service events.