CVE-2025-35999 is a vulnerability identified in the System Firmware Update Utility (SysFwUpdt) used on Intel Server Boards and Intel Server Systems prior to version 16.0.12. The root cause is an incorrect permission assignment for critical resources within the utility operating in Ring 3 (user mode). This misconfiguration allows a local attacker who already possesses privileged user credentials (e.g., administrator or root level) to escalate their privileges further, potentially gaining higher system privileges or control. The attack complexity is low, and it requires only passive user interaction, meaning the attacker does not need to actively engage the user beyond existing access. No special internal knowledge or sophisticated techniques are required, making the vulnerability accessible to attackers with moderate skill. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level within the vulnerable system, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of firmware or system components, or disruption of system operations. The CVSS 4.0 score is 5.4 (medium severity), reflecting the requirement for local privileged access and partial user interaction. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the risk remains significant due to the critical nature of firmware update utilities and their role in system security. The vulnerability is relevant to organizations using Intel server hardware that relies on the SysFwUpdt utility, particularly in environments where local privileged user access could be compromised or abused.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-35999 can be substantial, especially for those operating data centers, cloud infrastructure, or critical industrial systems using Intel server hardware. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized firmware modifications, potentially undermining system integrity and trustworthiness. This could result in data breaches, service disruptions, or persistent malware implantation at a low level, which is difficult to detect and remediate. Confidentiality of sensitive information could be compromised, and availability of critical services might be affected if firmware integrity is damaged. Given the requirement for local privileged access, the vulnerability is most concerning in environments where insider threats or lateral movement by attackers are possible. European organizations in finance, healthcare, government, and telecommunications sectors, which rely heavily on Intel server platforms, may face increased risk. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value infrastructure, amplifying geopolitical risks in the region.

To mitigate CVE-2025-35999, European organizations should: 1) Immediately verify the version of the System Firmware Update Utility (SysFwUpdt) deployed on Intel server boards and systems and upgrade to version 16.0.12 or later where the vulnerability is patched. 2) Restrict local privileged user access strictly to trusted personnel and implement robust access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized privilege escalations. 3) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring firmware update activities and alerting on anomalous behavior. 4) Conduct regular audits of system firmware integrity using cryptographic verification tools to detect unauthorized modifications. 5) Harden server environments by applying the principle of least privilege, disabling unnecessary accounts, and enforcing multi-factor authentication for administrative access. 6) Maintain up-to-date incident response plans that include firmware compromise scenarios. 7) Collaborate with Intel support and security advisories to receive timely updates and guidance. These steps go beyond generic patching by emphasizing access control, monitoring, and integrity verification specific to firmware update utilities.