CVE-2025-20023
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability involves incorrect default permissions in some Intel Graphics Driver installers, allowing authenticated local users to potentially escalate privileges. It affects systems with vulnerable Intel Graphics Driver versions installed. Attackers need local access and authentication to exploit this flaw.
💻 Affected Systems
- Intel Graphics Driver
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An authenticated attacker gains SYSTEM/root privileges, enabling complete system compromise, data theft, malware persistence, and lateral movement.
Likely Case
Local authenticated users (including low-privilege accounts) escalate to administrative privileges, bypassing security controls and installing unauthorized software.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and least privilege principles, impact is limited to authorized administrative users only.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local authenticated access and knowledge of vulnerable installer locations/permissions.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Updated Intel Graphics Driver versions specified in INTEL-SA-01299
Vendor Advisory: https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01299.html
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Visit Intel Security Advisory INTEL-SA-01299. 2. Identify affected driver version for your system. 3. Download and install updated Intel Graphics Driver from Intel's official website. 4. Verify installation completes successfully.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict installer directory permissions
allModify permissions on Intel Graphics Driver installer directories to prevent unauthorized write/execute access
Windows: icacls "C:\Program Files\Intel\Graphics\" /deny Users:(OI)(CI)W
Linux: chmod 750 /opt/intel/graphics/
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict least privilege principles for all user accounts
- Monitor and audit file permission changes in Intel Graphics directories
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Intel Graphics Driver version against affected versions in INTEL-SA-01299 advisoryCheck Version:
Windows: Get-WmiObject Win32_PnPSignedDriver | Where-Object {$_.DeviceName -like '*Intel*Graphics*'} | Select-Object DeviceName, DriverVersionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify installed Intel Graphics Driver version matches or exceeds patched version from advisory📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected privilege escalation events
- Unauthorized access to Intel Graphics directories
- Suspicious process execution from Intel installer locations
Network Indicators:
- None - local exploitation only
SIEM Query:
EventID=4688 AND ProcessName contains 'Intel' AND (NewProcessName contains 'cmd.exe' OR NewProcessName contains 'powershell.exe') AND SubjectUserName NOT IN (admin_users_list)