CVE-2025-20074
📋 TL;DR
A time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition vulnerability in Intel Connectivity Performance Suite installers allows authenticated local users to potentially escalate privileges. This affects users running vulnerable versions of the software on Windows systems. Attackers could exploit this to gain higher privileges than intended.
💻 Affected Systems
- Intel Connectivity Performance Suite
⚠️ 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
Authenticated attacker gains SYSTEM/administrator privileges, enabling complete system compromise, data theft, persistence installation, or lateral movement.
Likely Case
Local authenticated user escalates to administrator privileges to install malicious software, modify system configurations, or bypass security controls.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and least privilege principles, impact is limited to the compromised user's scope; privilege escalation attempts are logged and detected.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires race condition timing and local authenticated access; TOCTOU vulnerabilities typically require precise timing attacks.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 40.24.11210 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01286.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download latest Intel Connectivity Performance Suite from Intel's official website. 2. Uninstall previous version. 3. Install version 40.24.11210 or newer. 4. Restart system to complete installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict installer permissions
windowsLimit who can run Intel Connectivity Performance Suite installers and ensure they run with minimal necessary privileges.
Implement application whitelisting
windowsUse Windows AppLocker or similar to restrict execution of unauthorized installers and binaries.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove Intel Connectivity Performance Suite if not required
- Implement strict least privilege access controls and monitor for privilege escalation attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check installed version of Intel Connectivity Performance Suite via Programs and Features or using 'wmic product get name,version' command.Check Version:
wmic product where "name like '%Intel Connectivity Performance Suite%'" get versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 40.24.11210 or higher after update installation.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual process creation events from Intel installer executables
- Privilege escalation attempts in Windows Security logs
- Multiple rapid file access attempts to installer resources
Network Indicators:
- Not applicable - local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
EventID=4688 AND (NewProcessName contains 'Intel' AND NewProcessName contains 'Installer') AND SubjectUserName NOT IN [authorized_users]