CVE-2025-24325: Intel 800 Series Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2025-24325 Overview

CVE-2025-24325 is an improper input validation vulnerability [CWE-20] in the Linux kernel-mode driver for Intel 800 Series Ethernet adapters. The flaw affects driver versions prior to 1.17.2. An authenticated local user can exploit the vulnerability to escalate privileges on the affected system.

Because the driver runs in kernel mode, successful exploitation grants attacker-controlled code execution at the highest privilege level. This gives an adversary complete control over the host operating system, including access to memory, credentials, and other kernel structures.

Critical Impact
A local authenticated attacker can escalate privileges to kernel level by supplying malformed input to the Intel 800 Series Ethernet Linux driver.

Affected Products

Intel 800 Series Ethernet Linux kernel-mode driver versions before 1.17.2
Linux hosts using Intel 800 Series Ethernet network adapters (E810 family)
Server, workstation, and virtualization platforms shipping the affected ice driver

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-12 - CVE CVE-2025-24325 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24325

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Linux kernel-mode driver that manages Intel 800 Series Ethernet controllers. The driver fails to properly validate input received through a locally accessible interface. An authenticated user on the host can send crafted data that the driver processes without sufficient boundary or type checks.

Because the driver executes in kernel context, an input validation failure translates directly into kernel-level compromise. Intel classifies the issue as enabling escalation of privilege via local access. Intel's security advisory SA-01296 documents the flaw and identifies driver version 1.17.2 as the fixed release.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or incomplete input validation [CWE-20] on data paths reachable by an authenticated local user. The driver accepts input without verifying that structural, size, or content constraints are met before acting on it. This allows an attacker to influence kernel execution paths using values the driver was not designed to handle safely.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access and valid credentials on the target system. The attack does not require user interaction beyond the attacker's own session. Once the malformed input reaches the driver, the resulting kernel-level compromise can be used to modify system state, disable security controls, or persist across reboots.

No public proof-of-concept exploit has been released, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Refer to the Intel Security Advisory SA-01296 for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24325

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected kernel oops or panic messages referencing the ice driver in dmesg or /var/log/kern.log
New root-owned processes or SUID binaries appearing after activity from a non-privileged account
Loading or unloading of the Intel Ethernet driver at unusual times or by unusual users
Modifications to /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, or kernel modules following local user sessions

Detection Strategies

Inventory hosts running the Intel 800 Series Ethernet driver and compare installed versions against 1.17.2
Alert on privilege transitions from standard users to uid=0 outside sanctioned administrative workflows
Monitor kernel logs for driver-specific error patterns, netlink anomalies, or ioctl failures on the ice interface
Correlate local logon events with subsequent kernel-mode changes to identify potential exploitation chains

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Linux audit rules covering init_module, finit_module, and delete_module syscalls
Collect kernel ring buffer output centrally and retain it for retrospective hunting
Track loaded kernel module hashes and versions across the fleet to detect drift from patched baselines

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24325

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Intel 800 Series Ethernet Linux driver to version 1.17.2 or later on all affected hosts
Restrict local shell access to the smallest necessary set of authenticated users
Review sudo, group, and container privileges that grant access to hosts with Intel E810 adapters

Patch Information

Intel addressed the vulnerability in Linux driver version 1.17.2. Administrators should obtain the fixed driver package from Intel or their Linux distribution's kernel or driver update channels. Full remediation details are available in the Intel Security Advisory SA-01296.

Workarounds

Limit local access to systems with the affected adapter until the patched driver can be deployed
Disable or unload the ice driver on hosts where the Intel 800 Series adapter is not required for operation
Apply strict least-privilege policies and remove unnecessary local accounts on high-value hosts

bash

# Verify installed ice driver version and update if below 1.17.2
modinfo ice | grep -E '^version:'

# Example: unload the driver on hosts that do not require it
sudo modprobe -r ice