CVE-2025-30518 is an escalation of privilege vulnerability identified in Intel(R) PresentMon, a performance monitoring tool used primarily for capturing GPU and CPU performance data. The flaw exists in versions prior to 2.3.1 due to incorrect default permissions assigned to certain components running in user space (Ring 3). This misconfiguration allows an unprivileged, authenticated user with local access to potentially escalate their privileges on the system. Exploitation requires a high level of attack complexity and active user interaction, such as executing a crafted application or script. The vulnerability does not require special internal knowledge, but the attacker must be able to interact with the system locally and have some level of authenticated access. The impact is significant, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system at a high level, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of system state, or disruption of services. The CVSS 4.0 score of 5.4 reflects the local attack vector, high complexity, required privileges, and user interaction. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability remains a concern for environments where Intel PresentMon is deployed. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for organizations relying on Intel hardware and performance monitoring tools, as it could be leveraged for lateral movement or privilege escalation within internal networks.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily in environments where Intel PresentMon is deployed, such as enterprises with Intel-based infrastructure and performance monitoring needs. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges from a low-privileged user account to higher privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, tampering with system configurations, or disruption of critical services. This is especially concerning for sectors with stringent data protection requirements like finance, healthcare, and government agencies. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk in environments with shared or multi-user systems. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, meaning that compromised systems could lead to data breaches, operational disruptions, or further compromise of networked systems. Given the medium CVSS score and absence of known exploits, the threat is moderate but warrants proactive mitigation to prevent potential exploitation.

1. Upgrade Intel PresentMon to version 2.3.1 or later immediately to ensure the vulnerability is patched. 2. Review and enforce strict file system permissions and access controls on PresentMon binaries and related components to prevent unauthorized local access. 3. Limit user privileges on systems running PresentMon, ensuring users operate with the least privilege necessary. 4. Monitor local user activities and audit logs for suspicious behavior indicative of privilege escalation attempts. 5. Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous local privilege escalation activities. 6. Educate users about the risks of executing untrusted applications or scripts that could trigger the vulnerability. 7. In sensitive environments, consider isolating systems running PresentMon or restricting its use to trusted administrators only. 8. Regularly review and update security policies to incorporate vulnerability management for performance monitoring tools and related software.