CVE-2025-33030 Overview
CVE-2025-33030 is an improper conditions check vulnerability affecting firmware in certain Intel NPU (Neural Processing Unit) Drivers within Ring 3 user applications. This firmware vulnerability enables potential privilege escalation when an unprivileged software adversary with authenticated user access exploits the flaw through a local attack vector when specific attack requirements are present.
Critical Impact
This vulnerability may allow data corruption through privilege escalation in affected Intel NPU driver firmware, impacting system integrity.
Affected Products
- Intel NPU Driver Firmware (specific versions)
- Systems utilizing Intel NPU with affected driver firmware
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-10 - CVE-2025-33030 published to NVD
- 2026-02-10 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-33030
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from CWE-754 (Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions) within Intel NPU driver firmware. When firmware fails to properly validate conditions during specific operations within Ring 3 user applications, an attacker with low-privilege local access can potentially corrupt data on the vulnerable system.
The exploitation requires local access to the affected system and the presence of certain attack requirements, though no specialized internal knowledge of the target environment is necessary. The attack can be performed without user interaction, making it easier to exploit once local access is established.
The vulnerability impacts system integrity by enabling potential data corruption. The attack complexity is considered low, but requires specific attack prerequisites to be present for successful exploitation.
Root Cause
The root cause is an improper conditions check (CWE-754) in the Intel NPU driver firmware. The firmware fails to adequately validate or handle unusual or exceptional conditions during execution within Ring 3 (user-level) applications, creating a pathway for privilege escalation that could lead to data corruption.
Attack Vector
The attack requires local access to a system running vulnerable Intel NPU driver firmware. An authenticated user with low privileges can exploit the improper conditions check when specific attack requirements are present. The attack does not require user interaction and can be executed without specialized knowledge of the target system's internal configuration.
The exploitation pathway involves triggering the improper conditions check within Ring 3 user applications, which can result in data corruption due to the privilege escalation condition. For complete technical details, refer to the Intel Security Advisory SA-01403.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-33030
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected data modifications or corruption on systems with Intel NPU drivers
- Anomalous behavior in Ring 3 user applications interacting with Intel NPU firmware
- Unusual privilege elevation attempts associated with NPU driver operations
Detection Strategies
- Monitor for anomalous Intel NPU driver behavior and unexpected firmware interactions
- Implement endpoint detection rules for privilege escalation attempts targeting NPU drivers
- Review system logs for unusual user application interactions with Intel NPU firmware
- Deploy integrity monitoring for critical system data that may be targeted for corruption
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed logging for Intel NPU driver operations and firmware interactions
- Implement file integrity monitoring on systems with affected Intel NPU drivers
- Monitor authenticated user sessions for suspicious local privilege escalation attempts
- Establish baseline behavior for NPU driver firmware and alert on deviations
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-33030
Immediate Actions Required
- Review the Intel Security Advisory SA-01403 for detailed mitigation guidance
- Inventory all systems with Intel NPU drivers to identify potentially affected installations
- Apply firmware updates as provided by Intel when available
- Restrict local access to affected systems to trusted authenticated users only
Patch Information
Intel has published Security Advisory SA-01403 addressing this vulnerability. System administrators should consult the Intel Security Advisory SA-01403 for specific patch information and updated firmware versions. Apply the recommended firmware updates through your standard Intel driver update process.
Workarounds
- Limit local access privileges to systems with affected Intel NPU drivers
- Implement principle of least privilege for user accounts on affected systems
- Monitor and audit user activities on systems running Intel NPU firmware
- Consider disabling Intel NPU functionality if not critical to operations until patches are applied
# Example: Check Intel NPU driver version on Windows (PowerShell)
Get-WmiObject Win32_PnPSignedDriver | Where-Object {$_.DeviceName -like "*Intel*NPU*"} | Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersion
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
