CVE-2025-24838 Overview
CVE-2025-24838 is a privilege escalation vulnerability affecting the Intel Computing Improvement Program (CIP) software before version WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001. The flaw stems from improper privilege management [CWE-269] within Ring 3 user applications. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can exploit the weakness over the network without user interaction. Successful exploitation grants high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. Intel published advisory INTEL-SA-01328 describing the issue and providing a fixed release.
Critical Impact
An authenticated low-privilege attacker can escalate to higher privileges on systems running vulnerable Intel CIP versions, gaining full control over confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Affected Products
- Intel Computing Improvement Program (CIP) software prior to WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001
- Windows endpoints running the Intel Driver & Support Assistant data collection agent
- Systems with the bundled CIP telemetry component installed alongside Intel drivers
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-11-11 - CVE-2025-24838 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2025-11-26 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-24838
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-269] Improper Privilege Management. The Intel CIP software performs operations in Ring 3 user space but fails to enforce proper privilege boundaries between authenticated user contexts and elevated operations. An adversary running unprivileged code on the host, or interacting with an exposed CIP interface across the network, can leverage this gap to perform actions reserved for higher-privileged contexts. The attack requires authentication but not administrative rights, and no user interaction is required to trigger the flaw.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper enforcement of privilege separation inside the CIP service. Operations that should be restricted to a higher trust level are reachable from a lower-privileged authenticated session. Because the affected component is widely deployed alongside Intel drivers, the exposure surface includes consumer and enterprise Windows installations.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based against an authenticated user context. Exploitation does not require special internal knowledge of the target system, though specific attack requirements must be present (reflected by the AT:P metric). Successful exploitation yields high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact on the vulnerable system itself, with no propagation to subsequent systems per the CVSS 4.0 scope. No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently documented, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
No verified exploit code is publicly available for CVE-2025-24838. Refer to the Intel Security Advisory INTEL-SA-01328 for vendor-supplied technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24838
Indicators of Compromise
- Presence of Intel CIP installations with version below WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001 on managed Windows endpoints
- Unexpected child processes spawned by the Intel CIP service or its helper binaries
- Anomalous file or registry modifications under the CIP installation path performed by non-administrative user contexts
Detection Strategies
- Inventory all Windows hosts and compare installed Intel Computing Improvement Program versions against the patched build WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001
- Monitor process creation events where the CIP service launches binaries outside its standard execution chain
- Flag privilege transitions originating from user-mode processes that interact with CIP IPC endpoints
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable Windows process auditing and forward events to a central log platform for correlation
- Track token elevation and impersonation events tied to Intel CIP components
- Review outbound and lateral network connections originating from CIP service binaries
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24838
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Intel Computing Improvement Program to version WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001 or later on all affected endpoints
- Remove the Intel CIP component on systems that do not require driver update telemetry
- Restrict local and network access to CIP service endpoints to administrative users only
Patch Information
Intel addressed CVE-2025-24838 in CIP release WIN_DCA_2.4.0.11001. Administrators should download the updated installer through the Intel Driver & Support Assistant or directly from the Intel Security Advisory INTEL-SA-01328. Validate the installed version after deployment using Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product or equivalent inventory tooling.
Workarounds
- Uninstall the Intel Computing Improvement Program if business requirements do not depend on it
- Apply application control policies that block unprivileged users from interacting with CIP binaries
- Segment endpoints running vulnerable CIP versions from untrusted network zones until patching completes
# Verify installed Intel CIP version on Windows endpoints
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object { $_.Name -like "*Intel*Computing Improvement*" } | Select-Object Name, Version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
