CVE-2025-32001 is an escalation of privilege vulnerability found in Intel(R) Processor Identification Utility versions prior to 8.0.43. The root cause is an uncontrolled search path within the utility operating in Ring 3 (user mode), which can be exploited by a local authenticated user to escalate privileges. The vulnerability requires a high complexity attack combined with active user interaction, meaning the attacker must perform multiple steps and trick or convince the user to participate. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level on the vulnerable system, potentially allowing an attacker to gain elevated privileges and execute unauthorized actions. The attack vector is local (AV:L), with high attack complexity (AC:H), requiring privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:A). The vulnerability does not affect system-wide confidentiality, integrity, or availability beyond the local system. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date (November 11, 2025). The vulnerability is relevant to organizations using Intel processors and the associated identification utility, which is often deployed on endpoints and servers for processor information and diagnostics. The vulnerability was reserved in April 2025 and published in November 2025, indicating a recent discovery and disclosure. The CVSS 4.0 score of 5.4 reflects a medium severity rating, balancing the potential impact with the complexity and conditions required for exploitation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to systems running Intel processors with the affected Processor Identification Utility installed. Successful exploitation could allow a local authenticated user to escalate privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of system configurations, or disruption of services. This could impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical systems, especially in environments where endpoint security is crucial, such as financial institutions, healthcare, government agencies, and critical infrastructure operators. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but insider threats or compromised user accounts could leverage this vulnerability. The medium severity rating suggests a moderate risk, but the potential for privilege escalation means attackers could use this as a stepping stone for further attacks within a network. Organizations with strict access controls and monitoring may reduce the risk, but those with less mature endpoint security could be more vulnerable. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for proactive mitigation.

1. Immediately update the Intel(R) Processor Identification Utility to version 8.0.43 or later, where the uncontrolled search path vulnerability is fixed. 2. Restrict local user permissions to the minimum necessary, preventing unauthorized users from executing or modifying the utility or related files. 3. Implement application whitelisting and integrity monitoring on endpoints to detect and prevent unauthorized changes to the utility or its environment. 4. Educate users about the risks of interacting with unknown or suspicious prompts that could trigger the active user interaction required for exploitation. 5. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious local privilege escalation attempts. 6. Regularly audit and monitor local user accounts and their activities to detect potential misuse or compromise. 7. In environments where the utility is not essential, consider uninstalling or disabling it to reduce the attack surface. 8. Maintain up-to-date system and security patches for all software components to reduce the risk of chained exploits.