CVE-2025-36510 Overview
CVE-2025-36510 is a buffer restriction flaw in Intel Display Virtualization for Windows OS driver software operating within Ring 2: Device Drivers. The defect allows an authenticated local user to trigger a denial of service condition on the affected system. Exploitation does not require elevated privileges, user interaction, or special internal knowledge of the driver. The flaw is categorized under [CWE-119] (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer) and impacts availability only, with no impact to confidentiality or integrity. Intel disclosed the issue in advisory SA-01430.
Critical Impact
A local, low-privileged attacker can crash or hang the affected system by exercising the vulnerable driver code path.
Affected Products
- Intel Display Virtualization for Windows OS driver software
- Ring 2 Device Driver component shipped with the Display Virtualization stack
- Windows host systems running the vulnerable driver version (see Intel SA-01430 for exact builds)
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-12 - CVE-2025-36510 published to NVD
- 2026-05-13 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-36510
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from improper buffer restrictions inside an Intel Display Virtualization driver for Windows. Drivers operating at the Ring 2: Device Drivers layer mediate requests from user-mode applications to virtualized display resources. When the driver processes a request without correctly enforcing buffer boundaries, it can read or write outside expected memory ranges. The resulting fault terminates the driver or destabilizes the kernel subsystem that depends on it. Because the flaw lies in a graphics virtualization driver, a crash can take down display services and force a system restart.
The vulnerability impacts availability only. Intel's analysis reports no confidentiality or integrity loss on either the vulnerable component or downstream systems. The Exploit Prediction Scoring System currently rates this issue in a low percentile, and no public exploit code is available.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper validation of buffer bounds within driver code paths exposed to unprivileged callers. [CWE-119] covers cases where software performs operations on a memory buffer without confirming the operation stays within the buffer's allocated bounds. In this driver, request handling fails to constrain size or offset values before performing memory operations.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local. An authenticated user running unprivileged software on the host issues crafted requests to the vulnerable driver interface. The attack complexity is low, requires no user interaction, and depends on standard low-privileged access. There is no remote or network-based path to this vulnerability. Refer to the Intel Security Advisory SA-01430 for technical details on the affected interfaces.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-36510
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crashes, bugchecks, or hangs in display-related kernel components on systems running Intel Display Virtualization drivers
- Repeated process launches from a single unprivileged user account that immediately precede driver faults
- Windows Event Log entries referencing the Intel Display Virtualization driver image name with fault or stop errors
Detection Strategies
- Monitor kernel crash dumps and Windows Error Reporting telemetry for faults tied to the Intel Display Virtualization driver binary
- Correlate driver fault events with the user session and process that issued IOCTLs or device requests immediately before the fault
- Inventory endpoints to identify systems running affected driver versions listed in Intel SA-01430
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward Windows kernel and driver event logs to a centralized analytics platform for trend analysis
- Alert on repeated unexpected reboots or display service failures on workstations and virtualization hosts
- Track driver version inventory after patch deployment to confirm coverage across the fleet
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-36510
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all Windows systems running Intel Display Virtualization driver software and record installed versions
- Apply the updated driver version published in Intel Security Advisory SA-01430 as soon as it is validated in your environment
- Restrict local interactive logon to display virtualization hosts to trusted administrative accounts until patching completes
Patch Information
Intel published advisory SA-01430 with remediation guidance for the affected Display Virtualization for Windows OS driver. Administrators should consult the advisory for the specific fixed driver versions and apply vendor-supplied updates through standard driver deployment channels.
Workarounds
- Remove or disable the Intel Display Virtualization driver on systems that do not require display virtualization functionality
- Limit local user access on affected hosts through Group Policy, AppLocker, or Windows Defender Application Control to reduce the population that can reach the vulnerable interface
- Enable kernel crash collection and automatic restart policies to minimize downtime if a denial of service is triggered before patching
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
