CVE-2025-36515: AI Playground Privilege Escalation Flaw

CVE-2025-36515 Overview

CVE-2025-36515 is an uncontrolled search path vulnerability [CWE-427] affecting Intel AI Playground software prior to version 3.0.0 alpha. The flaw resides within Ring 3 user application space and may allow a local, authenticated attacker to escalate privileges through DLL or library hijacking. Exploitation requires active user interaction and is rated as high attack complexity. Successful exploitation impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. Intel published advisory SA-01438 to address the issue.

Critical Impact

A local authenticated user can plant a malicious library in an uncontrolled search path and gain elevated privileges on hosts running vulnerable versions of Intel AI Playground.

Affected Products

• Intel AI Playground software versions prior to 3.0.0 alpha
• Windows endpoints running the affected AI Playground installer or runtime
• Workstations leveraging Intel AI Playground for local AI model execution

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-05-12 - CVE-2025-36515 published to NVD
• 2026-05-13 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-36515

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from an uncontrolled search path element in Intel AI Playground software before version 3.0.0 alpha. When the application loads dependent libraries, it resolves them using a search order that includes directories writable by a low-privileged user. An attacker who can place a crafted library file along the search path can cause the application to load attacker-controlled code into its process context. Because the application may run with elevated privileges or be launched by a privileged user, the planted code executes outside the attacker's original authorization boundary.

Root Cause

The root cause is classified under [CWE-427] Uncontrolled Search Path Element. Intel AI Playground does not enforce absolute paths or trusted directories when resolving certain executable or library dependencies. The loader follows the default Windows DLL search order, which can include the current working directory or per-user paths before the secure system locations.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access with an authenticated user session and user interaction to trigger the vulnerable code path. The attacker plants a malicious DLL or executable in a directory that appears earlier in the resolution order than the legitimate dependency. When a user launches Intel AI Playground, the loader binds the malicious library, executing adversary code with the privileges of the launching process. The high attack complexity reflects the timing and placement conditions an attacker must satisfy.

See the Intel Security Advisory SA-01438 for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-36515

Indicators of Compromise

• Unsigned or unexpected DLL files present in Intel AI Playground installation directories or user-writable paths preceding them
• Intel AI Playground processes loading modules from %TEMP%, %APPDATA%, or per-user download folders
• Child processes spawned by AI Playground that are inconsistent with normal application behavior

Detection Strategies

• Monitor ImageLoad events for AI Playground binaries and alert on libraries loaded from non-standard or user-writable directories
• Inspect installed AI Playground versions across the fleet and flag any build earlier than 3.0.0 alpha
• Hunt for newly written .dll files in directories adjacent to or upstream of the AI Playground executable in the search order

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Sysmon Event ID 7 (Image Loaded) with a configuration that captures loads from user-writable paths
• Correlate AI Playground process starts with file-write events targeting application directories in the preceding minutes
• Track privilege transitions for processes originating from the AI Playground executable

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-36515

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Intel AI Playground to version 3.0.0 alpha or later as directed in Intel advisory SA-01438
• Restrict write permissions on directories present in the application search path so standard users cannot plant libraries
• Audit existing AI Playground installations for unauthorized DLL files prior to patching

Patch Information

Intel addressed the vulnerability in AI Playground 3.0.0 alpha. Refer to the Intel Security Advisory SA-01438 for the corrected build and installation guidance.

Workarounds

• Remove Intel AI Playground from systems where it is not actively used until the patched version is deployed
• Run AI Playground only from least-privileged user accounts and avoid launching it from administrative contexts
• Apply application allowlisting to block unsigned DLLs from loading into the AI Playground process

# Example: enumerate installed AI Playground versions on Windows endpoints
Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\* |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*AI Playground*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, InstallLocation