CVE-2025-25059 is a vulnerability identified in Intel One Boot Flash Update (OFU) software prior to version 14.1.31. The root cause is an uncontrolled search path within user applications operating in Ring 3, which is the user-mode level of the CPU privilege hierarchy. This flaw allows an unprivileged software adversary, who is an authenticated user on the system, to perform an escalation of privilege attack. The attack complexity is high, requiring active user interaction and local access, meaning the attacker must already have some level of access to the system and trick or convince a user to perform an action. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level, indicating that successful exploitation could lead to significant compromise of system security. However, the CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H) reflects that the attack vector is local, with high attack complexity, partial privileges required, and user interaction necessary. There are no known exploits in the wild, and no special internal knowledge is required beyond authenticated user access. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because Intel OFU software is used for firmware update processes, which are critical for system security and stability. An attacker gaining elevated privileges through this flaw could potentially manipulate firmware update processes or other sensitive operations, leading to broader system compromise. The vulnerability was published on November 11, 2025, and Intel has released version 14.1.31 to address this issue.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-25059 could be significant, especially in sectors relying heavily on Intel hardware and firmware update tools, such as finance, telecommunications, government, and critical infrastructure. Successful exploitation could allow a local attacker to escalate privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, manipulation of firmware updates, or disruption of system availability. This could result in data breaches, operational downtime, and loss of trust. Since the vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, insider threats or compromised endpoints pose the greatest risk. Organizations with large numbers of Intel-based systems running outdated OFU software are particularly vulnerable. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, meaning that the consequences of exploitation could be severe, including persistent system compromise and disruption of critical services.

The primary mitigation is to update Intel One Boot Flash Update software to version 14.1.31 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement strict local user access controls to limit the number of users with authenticated access to systems running OFU software. Employ application whitelisting and restrict execution of unauthorized binaries to reduce the risk of exploitation via uncontrolled search paths. Monitor local system activity for unusual behavior indicative of privilege escalation attempts, such as unexpected process launches or modifications to firmware update components. Conduct regular audits of user permissions and system configurations to ensure compliance with least privilege principles. Additionally, educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted software or prompts that could trigger exploitation. For high-security environments, consider isolating systems that perform firmware updates to minimize exposure. Finally, maintain an up-to-date inventory of affected systems to prioritize patch deployment and vulnerability management efforts.