CVE-2025-20106: Intel VTune Profiler Privilege Escalation

CVE-2025-20106 Overview

CVE-2025-20106 is an uncontrolled search path vulnerability affecting the software installer for Intel VTune™ Profiler software and Intel® oneAPI Base Toolkits before version 2025.0. This privilege escalation flaw exists within Ring 3 (User Applications) and can be exploited by an authenticated local attacker to gain elevated privileges on the affected system. The vulnerability requires user interaction and specific attack conditions to be present for successful exploitation.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker to escalate privileges locally, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

Affected Products

• Intel VTune™ Profiler software versions before 2025.0
• Intel® oneAPI Base Toolkits versions before 2025.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-10 - CVE-2025-20106 published to NVD
• 2026-02-10 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-20106

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element), a class of security weakness where an application searches for critical resources using an externally-influenced search path that could point to malicious resources. In the context of the Intel software installer, the vulnerability allows an attacker to manipulate the DLL search path during the installation process.

The flaw exists within the installer components that run in user space (Ring 3). When the installer attempts to load required libraries, it searches directories in a specific order. If an attacker can place a malicious DLL in a location that is searched before the legitimate library location, the malicious code executes with the privileges of the installation process.

The attack requires local access to the target system, authentication as a valid user, and active user interaction (such as running the vulnerable installer). Additionally, specific attack requirements must be present, making this a high-complexity attack scenario.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-20106 is improper validation of the DLL search path within the Intel software installer. The installer does not adequately restrict or validate the directories from which it loads dynamic libraries during execution. This allows an attacker to exploit the Windows DLL search order by placing a malicious library in a location that takes precedence over the intended library path.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, requiring the attacker to have authenticated access to the target system. The exploitation scenario involves the following steps:

1. An authenticated attacker identifies a writable directory in the DLL search path
2. The attacker places a malicious DLL with the same name as a library loaded by the installer
3. The attacker tricks a user into running the vulnerable installer (or waits for legitimate installation activity)
4. When the installer executes, it loads the malicious DLL instead of the legitimate library
5. The malicious code runs with the elevated privileges of the installation process

The high complexity and specific prerequisites required for exploitation significantly reduce the practical risk, though the potential impact remains substantial if successfully exploited.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-20106

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected DLL files appearing in user-writable directories along the system PATH
• Unusual DLL loading behavior during Intel software installation processes
• Process execution anomalies where installer processes load libraries from non-standard locations

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for DLL side-loading attempts by tracking library loads from user-writable directories during installation processes
• Implement application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized libraries
• Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify suspicious DLL loading patterns during software installations

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for software installation activities on systems where Intel development tools are installed
• Configure security information and event management (SIEM) rules to alert on DLL loading from non-standard paths during Intel software executions
• Regularly audit user-writable directories in the system PATH for unauthorized files

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-20106

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Intel VTune™ Profiler to version 2025.0 or later
• Upgrade Intel® oneAPI Base Toolkits to version 2025.0 or later
• Audit and restrict user-writable directories in the system PATH environment variable
• Ensure software installations are performed in controlled environments with clean directory structures

Patch Information

Intel has addressed this vulnerability in version 2025.0 of the affected products. Organizations should obtain the patched software through official Intel distribution channels. For detailed patch information, refer to the Intel Security Advisory SA-01265.

Workarounds

• Restrict write permissions on directories included in the system PATH to prevent unauthorized DLL placement
• Perform software installations on clean systems or in isolated environments where directory contents can be verified
• Use application control solutions to block execution of unsigned or unauthorized DLLs during installation processes
• Temporarily remove user-writable directories from the PATH when running Intel software installers

# Example: Audit PATH directories for writable locations (Windows PowerShell)
$env:PATH -split ';' | ForEach-Object {
    if (Test-Path $_) {
        $acl = Get-Acl $_
        Write-Output "Path: $_ - Check permissions manually"
    }
}