CVE-2025-24299: Intel CIP Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2025-24299 Overview

CVE-2025-24299 is an improper input validation vulnerability in the Intel Computing Improvement Program (CIP) software prior to version WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001. The flaw resides within Ring 3 user-mode application context and enables an authenticated, unprivileged adversary to escalate privileges over the network. Intel disclosed the issue in security advisory INTEL-SA-01328. The weakness is classified under [CWE-20] Improper Input Validation.

Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker with low privileges can escalate privileges and compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems running vulnerable Intel CIP versions.

Affected Products

Intel Computing Improvement Program (CIP) software versions prior to WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001
Windows endpoints with Intel Driver & Support Assistant components bundled with CIP
Consumer and enterprise systems running Intel telemetry collection components

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-11 - CVE-2025-24299 published to NVD
2025-11-11 - Intel publishes security advisory INTEL-SA-01328
2025-11-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24299

Vulnerability Analysis

The Intel Computing Improvement Program collects telemetry and assists with driver updates on Windows endpoints. Versions prior to WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001 fail to properly validate input within Ring 3 user-mode components. An authenticated local user can supply crafted input that the CIP software processes without sufficient sanitization. The resulting condition allows the attacker to execute actions outside their assigned privilege boundary. The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host where CIP is installed.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient input validation logic [CWE-20] inside CIP user-application components. The software accepts attacker-controlled data without enforcing the expected structure, type, or range. Because CIP operates with elevated capabilities to manage driver and telemetry workflows, mishandled input can be coerced into privileged operations. The EPSS probability for in-the-wild exploitation currently sits at roughly 0.28 percent.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity and requires low privileges with no user interaction. An adversary first obtains authenticated access to a target system, then sends crafted requests to vulnerable CIP interfaces. No verified public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available, and the CVE is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Refer to the Intel Security Advisory INTEL-SA-01328 for vendor-confirmed technical details.

No verified exploitation code is available at this time. Defenders should treat any unexpected interaction with CIP service components from low-privileged user contexts as suspicious.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24299

Indicators of Compromise

Presence of Intel CIP installations with version strings below WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001 in %ProgramFiles%\Intel\Intel(R) Computing Improvement Program\.
Unexpected child processes spawned by CIP service binaries running with elevated tokens.
Anomalous network connections originating from CIP processes to non-Intel destinations.

Detection Strategies

Inventory Intel CIP versions across the fleet using endpoint management tooling and flag hosts below the fixed version.
Monitor for privilege transitions where standard user accounts gain elevated capabilities through CIP-related processes.
Correlate Windows Security event logs with process creation telemetry to identify abuse of CIP IPC interfaces.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Sysmon process creation, network connection, and image load events for CIP binaries.
Centralize endpoint telemetry into a SIEM or data lake to enable retroactive hunting for input validation abuse patterns.
Alert on unsigned or unexpected modules loaded into CIP processes.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24299

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Intel Computing Improvement Program to version WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001 or later on every affected Windows host.
Audit endpoints to confirm CIP is required for business operations and remove the software where it is not needed.
Restrict local interactive logon rights to reduce the population of accounts capable of triggering the vulnerable code path.

Patch Information

Intel released the fixed version WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001 to address CVE-2025-24299. Download instructions and the full vendor advisory are available in the Intel Security Advisory INTEL-SA-01328. Apply the update through the Intel Driver & Support Assistant or via enterprise software distribution tooling.

Workarounds

Uninstall Intel CIP from systems where telemetry participation is not required until patching is complete.
Apply application allowlisting to block execution of vulnerable CIP binary versions.
Enforce the principle of least privilege so that user accounts cannot leverage authenticated network sessions against vulnerable endpoints.

bash

# Query installed Intel CIP version on Windows hosts
Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\* |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*Intel*Computing Improvement*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, InstallLocation