CVE-2025-20003: Intel Graphics Driver Privilege Escalation

CVE-2025-20003 Overview

CVE-2025-20003 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting some Intel Graphics Driver software installers. The flaw stems from improper link resolution before file access, commonly known as link following [CWE-59]. An authenticated local user can exploit this weakness to escalate privileges on affected systems.

The vulnerability requires local access and low privileges to exploit. Successful exploitation grants attackers elevated privileges with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Intel disclosed the issue in security advisory SA-01259.

Critical Impact
An authenticated local attacker can leverage symbolic link manipulation during Intel Graphics Driver installation to gain elevated privileges on the target system.

Affected Products

Intel Graphics Driver software installers (versions listed in Intel Security Advisory SA-01259)
Systems running vulnerable Intel Graphics Driver installer packages
Windows endpoints performing Intel Graphics Driver installation or update operations

Discovery Timeline

2025-05-13 - CVE-2025-20003 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-20003

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the file access logic of Intel Graphics Driver installers. During installation, the installer accesses files or directories without properly validating whether the target path is a symbolic link, junction, or hard link. This class of flaw is categorized under [CWE-59] Improper Link Resolution Before File Access.

Attackers with local access can plant crafted links in paths the installer touches during execution. When the installer performs privileged file operations against these attacker-controlled links, it dereferences them and acts on unintended targets. The result is arbitrary file write or overwrite with the installer's elevated privileges.

The attack vector is local, and the exploitation requires an existing authenticated session on the target machine. Successful exploitation yields high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected host.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient validation of link targets before privileged file operations. The installer does not verify that a file path resolves to a legitimate target within an expected trust boundary. Instead, it follows any link placed by a lower-privileged user, transferring installer privileges to attacker-controlled destinations.

Attack Vector

A local authenticated user identifies file paths that the Intel Graphics Driver installer creates, writes to, or reads during execution. The attacker plants a symbolic link or junction at one of these paths, pointing to a sensitive system location. When an administrator or the installer service runs the installation, the privileged process follows the link and performs its operations against the attacker-chosen target. This enables overwriting protected files, staging malicious binaries in privileged directories, or otherwise redirecting installer actions to achieve code execution as SYSTEM.

No verified exploit code is publicly available. Refer to the Intel Security Advisory SA-01259 for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-20003

Indicators of Compromise

Creation of symbolic links, junctions, or hard links in temporary or installer working directories immediately before Intel Graphics Driver installer execution
Unexpected file writes to protected system directories such as C:\Windows\System32 originating from Intel installer processes
New or modified binaries in privileged locations timestamped to coincide with graphics driver installation events
Non-administrative users creating reparse points in directories subsequently accessed by installer processes

Detection Strategies

Monitor process telemetry for Intel Graphics Driver installer executables performing file operations that traverse reparse points
Alert on CreateSymbolicLink, CreateHardLink, and junction creation events by non-administrative accounts in installer-adjacent paths
Correlate installer process activity with privileged file writes to detect link-following behavior in real time

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Windows object access auditing on directories used by Intel driver installers to capture link creation and file access patterns
Ingest endpoint file and process telemetry into a centralized data lake for retrospective hunting across driver installation events
Track privilege transitions where a low-privileged user's actions precede SYSTEM-context file modifications during installer runs

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-20003

Immediate Actions Required

Update all Intel Graphics Driver installations to the fixed versions listed in Intel Security Advisory SA-01259
Restrict interactive local logon rights on systems where driver installations occur to reduce the pool of potential attackers
Audit endpoints for outdated Intel Graphics Driver installer packages staged on disk and remove unused installer artifacts

Patch Information

Intel released updated Graphics Driver installers addressing CVE-2025-20003. Administrators should download the current driver packages from Intel or the OEM system vendor. Consult Intel Security Advisory SA-01259 for the specific fixed version numbers and affected product SKUs.

Workarounds

Restrict installer execution to administrator-controlled maintenance windows without concurrent user sessions on the target host
Remove write permissions for standard users on temporary directories used during Intel driver installations where feasible
Enforce application control policies that block execution of unpatched Intel Graphics Driver installer versions

bash

# Windows PowerShell: enumerate installed Intel Graphics Driver versions
Get-WmiObject Win32_PnPSignedDriver | Where-Object { $_.DeviceName -like "*Intel*Graphics*" } | Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersion, DriverDate