CVE-2025-24486: Intel 700 Series Ethernet Privilege Escalation

CVE-2025-24486 Overview

CVE-2025-24486 is an improper input validation vulnerability [CWE-20] in the Linux kernel-mode driver for certain Intel 700 Series Ethernet controllers. The flaw exists in driver versions before 2.28.5 and allows an authenticated local user to escalate privileges. Exploitation requires local access and valid low-privilege credentials on the target system. Intel disclosed the issue in security advisory SA-01335.

Critical Impact
A local authenticated attacker can elevate privileges to kernel level, gaining full control of the affected host through the vulnerable Ethernet driver.

Affected Products

Intel 700 Series Ethernet Linux kernel-mode driver versions prior to 2.28.5
Systems running Intel 700 Series Ethernet controllers with vulnerable driver
Linux distributions shipping the affected i40e driver package

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-12 - CVE-2025-24486 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24486

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Linux kernel-mode driver supporting Intel 700 Series Ethernet controllers. The driver fails to properly validate input received from user space or lower-privileged contexts. Because the driver executes in kernel mode, insufficient validation of parameters crossing the user-kernel boundary provides a path for privilege escalation.

An authenticated local user can supply crafted input to the driver interface. The driver processes this input without adequate bounds or type checks, allowing the attacker to influence kernel-mode operations. Successful exploitation yields elevated privileges and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host.

The attack complexity is high, meaning exploitation requires specific conditions or preparation. However, the resulting impact spans the entire system security scope once the driver is manipulated. See the Intel Security Advisory SA-01335 for vendor details.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient input validation [CWE-20] within the kernel-mode driver code paths. The driver accepts data from callers without enforcing correctness of length, range, or structure. This design gap permits untrusted input to alter kernel data structures or control flow.

Attack Vector

An attacker with local shell access and valid credentials interacts with the vulnerable driver through its exposed interfaces, such as ioctl calls, netlink messages, or ethtool operations. Crafted parameters trigger the improper validation condition and cause the driver to perform actions on behalf of the attacker at kernel privilege level. Remote exploitation is not possible; physical or authenticated local access is required.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is available at this time. The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24486

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected kernel oops, panic, or stack traces referencing the i40e driver module in /var/log/kern.log or dmesg output
Loading or reloading of the i40e module by non-administrative accounts
New privileged processes spawned by previously unprivileged users following network driver activity

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Intel Ethernet driver versions on Linux hosts and flag any version below 2.28.5
Audit kernel module load events and ioctl usage against network interface devices using auditd rules
Correlate local user sessions with subsequent uid transitions to root to identify privilege escalation patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Linux audit subsystem rules for ioctl and sendmsg syscalls targeting network device files
Ship kernel logs and audit events to a centralized SIEM for retention and correlation
Monitor for anomalous ethtool or netlink activity originating from non-root accounts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24486

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Intel 700 Series Ethernet Linux driver to version 2.28.5 or later on all affected hosts
Restrict local shell access to trusted administrators until patching is complete
Review and tighten sudo policies and group memberships that grant access to network configuration tools

Patch Information

Intel released a fixed driver version 2.28.5 addressing the improper input validation. Administrators should obtain the updated driver from the Intel Security Advisory SA-01335 or from their Linux distribution's package repository once the fix is integrated. Rebuild the kernel or reload the i40e module after installation to activate the patched code.

Workarounds

Limit local login to the affected system to a minimal set of trusted administrative accounts
Remove or restrict access to ethtool, ip, and other network configuration utilities for non-admin users
Unload the i40e module on systems that do not require Intel 700 Series Ethernet functionality using modprobe -r i40e

bash

# Verify installed i40e driver version and update if below 2.28.5
modinfo i40e | grep -E '^version:'

# Reload the driver after patching
sudo modprobe -r i40e && sudo modprobe i40e

# Restrict ethtool execution to root only
sudo chmod 750 /usr/sbin/ethtool