CVE-2025-36511: Intel Memory and Storage Tool Privilege Escalation

CVE-2025-36511 Overview

CVE-2025-36511 is an incorrect default permissions vulnerability affecting Intel(R) Memory and Storage Tool before version 2.5.2. This security flaw exists within Ring 3: User Applications and may allow an authenticated local attacker to escalate privileges on the vulnerable system. The vulnerability requires high attack complexity, specific attack prerequisites, and active user interaction to exploit successfully.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation could result in high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the vulnerable system through local privilege escalation.

Affected Products

• Intel(R) Memory and Storage Tool versions prior to 2.5.2

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-10 - CVE CVE-2025-36511 published to NVD
• 2026-02-10 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-36511

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions), a configuration flaw where system resources are created or installed with overly permissive access controls. In the context of Intel Memory and Storage Tool, the application's default file or directory permissions allow unauthorized users to read, write, or execute resources that should be restricted to privileged accounts only.

The vulnerability exists within Ring 3 (user space) applications, meaning the initial attack surface is accessible to standard authenticated users. While the attack complexity is high and requires specific conditions to be present along with active user interaction, successful exploitation allows a system software adversary to elevate their privileges beyond their intended authorization level.

Root Cause

The root cause is incorrect default permissions assigned to application resources during installation or runtime. When permissions are overly permissive, lower-privileged users gain the ability to modify or replace critical application files, configuration data, or executables that are subsequently executed with higher privileges.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local, requiring the attacker to have an authenticated session on the target system. The exploitation scenario involves:

1. An authenticated local user identifies files or directories with insecure permissions belonging to the Intel Memory and Storage Tool
2. The attacker modifies or replaces these resources with malicious content
3. When the application executes with elevated privileges or when a privileged user interacts with the tool, the malicious content is processed
4. This results in privilege escalation, granting the attacker elevated permissions on the system

The attack requires specific prerequisites to be present and depends on active user interaction, making opportunistic exploitation less likely but still a significant risk in environments where the tool is deployed.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-36511

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected modifications to Intel Memory and Storage Tool installation directories or files
• Changes in file permissions or ownership for application resources
• Suspicious process execution chains originating from Intel MAS Tool components
• Anomalous privilege changes for user accounts following interaction with the tool

Detection Strategies

• Monitor file system integrity for unauthorized changes to Intel Memory and Storage Tool installation paths
• Implement security auditing for permission changes on application directories and executable files
• Deploy endpoint detection rules for privilege escalation attempts following local tool execution
• Review Windows Security Event logs for Event ID 4688 (process creation) anomalies related to the tool

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable file integrity monitoring (FIM) on Intel Memory and Storage Tool installation directories
• Configure audit policies to log permission modifications and access attempts to tool resources
• Implement behavioral analysis to detect unusual privilege elevation patterns
• Monitor for unauthorized DLL loading or executable replacement in application paths

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-36511

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Intel Memory and Storage Tool to version 2.5.2 or later immediately
• Audit current file and directory permissions for existing installations
• Review user accounts with access to systems running vulnerable versions
• Monitor for exploitation attempts until patches can be applied

Patch Information

Intel has released version 2.5.2 of the Memory and Storage Tool which addresses this incorrect default permissions vulnerability. Administrators should obtain the updated software through official Intel channels and apply the update to all affected systems. For detailed patch information, refer to the Intel Security Advisory SA-01414.

Workarounds

• Manually review and restrict permissions on Intel Memory and Storage Tool installation directories
• Limit local user access to systems running the vulnerable tool version
• Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized code execution
• Use least-privilege principles for user accounts on affected systems
• Consider temporarily uninstalling the tool until the patch can be applied in critical environments