CVE-2025-31937 is a vulnerability identified in Intel(R) QuickAssist Technology (QAT) Windows software prior to version 2.6.0. The issue is an out-of-bounds read occurring within Ring 3, which is the user application layer, potentially allowing a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability requires an authenticated local user with system software privileges to exploit, combined with a high complexity attack, meaning it is not trivial to execute. No user interaction is needed, and no special internal knowledge is required beyond authentication. The flaw does not affect confidentiality or integrity but can severely impact system availability by causing crashes or resource exhaustion. The CVSS 4.0 score is 5.7 (medium), reflecting the local attack vector, high complexity, and the requirement for low privileges but no user interaction. The vulnerability is specific to Intel QAT Windows software, which is used to accelerate cryptographic and compression workloads, often in enterprise and data center environments. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported, but the vulnerability could be leveraged to disrupt services relying on Intel QAT hardware acceleration.

For European organizations, the primary impact is on availability of systems utilizing Intel QAT Windows software for cryptographic acceleration. Disruption could affect critical infrastructure, financial services, telecommunications, and cloud providers that rely on Intel QAT for performance improvements. Although confidentiality and integrity are not compromised, denial of service could lead to downtime, degraded service quality, and potential operational disruptions. Organizations with high dependency on Intel QAT hardware acceleration may experience service interruptions, impacting business continuity and customer trust. The requirement for local authenticated access limits remote exploitation risk but insider threats or compromised accounts could leverage this vulnerability. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but patching remains critical to prevent future attacks.

Organizations should promptly upgrade Intel QAT Windows software to version 2.6.0 or later where this vulnerability is addressed. Implement strict access controls and monitoring to limit local authenticated user privileges, reducing the risk of exploitation. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Regularly audit user accounts and restrict administrative privileges to minimize insider threat risks. Network segmentation can isolate critical systems using Intel QAT hardware to contain potential DoS impacts. Additionally, maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to quickly recover from any service disruptions. Since no patches links were provided, organizations should monitor Intel’s official advisories for updates and apply them promptly once available.