CVE-2025-20093: Intel 800 Series Ethernet Privilege Escalation

CVE-2025-20093 Overview

CVE-2025-20093 affects the Linux kernel-mode driver for Intel 800 Series Ethernet controllers before version 1.17.2. The vulnerability stems from an improper check for unusual or exceptional conditions [CWE-754] in driver code paths. An authenticated local user can leverage the flaw to escalate privileges on affected systems.

The issue requires local access and user interaction, but successfully weaponized exploitation yields high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Intel published details in advisory SA-01296 and shipped a fixed driver release.

Critical Impact
Authenticated local attackers can escalate privileges through the Intel 800 Series Ethernet Linux kernel-mode driver, gaining kernel-level control of the host.

Affected Products

Intel 800 Series Ethernet controllers running the Linux kernel-mode driver
Intel Ethernet Linux driver versions prior to 1.17.2
Linux hosts using the vulnerable Intel ice/irdma driver stack

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-12 - CVE-2025-20093 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-20093

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Linux kernel-mode driver supporting Intel 800 Series Ethernet devices. The driver fails to properly check for unusual or exceptional conditions during operation, corresponding to the CWE-754 weakness class. Missing validation of these conditions allows an authenticated local user to reach a code path that grants elevated privileges.

Because the driver executes in kernel context, successful exploitation compromises the entire operating system. Attackers who obtain kernel-mode execution can disable security controls, load additional modules, or manipulate memory belonging to other processes. The flaw is bounded by the need for local authenticated access and some user interaction, reducing the population of viable attackers to those already on the system.

Root Cause

The root cause is inadequate handling of exceptional conditions inside the driver logic. When an unexpected state occurs, the driver proceeds without returning an error or sanitizing state. This gap creates a window in which a local user can influence kernel-mode execution and escalate from an unprivileged account to root or kernel-level privileges.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local. An authenticated user interacts with the vulnerable driver interface, most likely through ioctl calls, netlink messages, or device file operations exposed by the Intel Ethernet driver. Triggering the exceptional condition drives the driver into an unsafe path that the attacker leverages for privilege escalation.

No public proof-of-concept is available, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Technical specifics are documented in the Intel Security Advisory SA-01296.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-20093

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected loading or reloading of the Intel ice or related Ethernet kernel modules by non-root processes
Kernel log entries showing driver faults, warnings, or oops events tied to Intel 800 Series Ethernet hardware
New privileged processes spawned shortly after activity against /dev or netlink interfaces exposed by the driver

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Intel Ethernet driver versions and flag any host running a version earlier than 1.17.2
Monitor for unprivileged users invoking ioctl calls or netlink operations against Intel Ethernet network interfaces
Correlate kernel ring buffer anomalies with subsequent UID transitions to root on the same host

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Linux audit rules for execve, setuid, and driver-related ioctl syscalls on servers with Intel 800 Series NICs
Forward dmesg and journald output to a centralized log platform for retention and anomaly analysis
Alert on kernel module load events originating from non-package-manager paths

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-20093

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade the Intel 800 Series Ethernet Linux driver to version 1.17.2 or later on all affected hosts
Identify systems using Intel 800 Series NICs by inspecting lspci output and driver metadata from modinfo ice
Restrict local shell access on affected hosts to trusted administrators until patching is complete

Patch Information

Intel has released a fixed driver in version 1.17.2 and later. Refer to the Intel Security Advisory SA-01296 for download links and platform-specific guidance. Distribution vendors may package the fix under their own kernel or driver update channels.

Workarounds

Limit local interactive access to the affected systems and enforce strong authentication for all user accounts
Apply mandatory access control policies (SELinux or AppArmor) to restrict user-space interaction with the Intel Ethernet driver
Where feasible, disable unused driver features or interfaces that expose the vulnerable code path

bash

# Verify installed Intel Ethernet driver version
modinfo ice | grep -E '^version:'

# Example expected output after patching
# version: 1.17.2