CVE-2025-35963 is a denial of service (DoS) vulnerability identified in Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows, specifically in versions prior to 23.160. The root cause is insufficient control flow management within the device drivers operating at Ring 2 privilege level, which governs hardware interaction. This flaw allows an unauthenticated and unprivileged attacker with adjacent network access—meaning they must be on the same local network segment or physically close—to trigger a denial of service condition. The attack does not require user interaction or special internal knowledge, and the complexity is low, making it relatively easy to exploit. The vulnerability solely impacts system availability, causing potential crashes or system hangs, but does not compromise confidentiality or integrity of data. The CVSS 4.0 score of 8.3 reflects the high severity due to the ease of exploitation and significant impact on availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be treated as a serious risk. Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software is widely used in enterprise and consumer Windows environments, making the scope of affected systems broad. The vulnerability highlights the risks associated with device driver security and the importance of timely patching to maintain system stability and availability.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to operational continuity, especially in sectors relying heavily on wireless connectivity such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure. A successful DoS attack could disrupt wireless network availability, leading to loss of productivity, interruption of critical services, and potential cascading effects on dependent systems. Since the attack requires only adjacent network access, attackers could exploit unsecured or poorly segmented wireless networks, including guest or public WiFi environments. The lack of confidentiality and integrity impact limits data breach concerns, but availability disruptions can cause severe business impact and potential regulatory scrutiny under frameworks like NIS2 and GDPR if service outages affect personal data processing or critical services. The broad deployment of Intel wireless drivers in corporate laptops and desktops across Europe increases the potential attack surface. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using wireless connections are also at elevated risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate threat but does not diminish the urgency of mitigation.

1. Immediate patching: Organizations should prioritize updating Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software to version 23.160 or later as soon as patches become available from Intel or OEM vendors. 2. Network segmentation: Limit adjacent network access by segmenting wireless networks, isolating critical systems, and restricting access to trusted devices only. 3. Access controls: Implement strong wireless access controls including WPA3 encryption, MAC filtering, and network access control (NAC) solutions to reduce exposure. 4. Monitoring and detection: Deploy network monitoring tools to detect unusual wireless traffic patterns or repeated connection failures indicative of DoS attempts. 5. Incident response readiness: Prepare response plans for potential wireless network outages, including fallback connectivity options and communication protocols. 6. Vendor coordination: Engage with hardware and software vendors to ensure timely updates and verify driver versions in use across the organization. 7. User awareness: Educate users about risks of connecting to untrusted wireless networks and encourage use of VPNs for remote access. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling adjacent network access and emphasizing proactive patch management and network architecture adjustments specific to wireless environments.