Introduction
Privilege escalation in kernel drivers can undermine all OS-level security boundaries. CVE-2025-20093 impacts Linux systems running Intel 800 Series Ethernet controllers, which are widely deployed in enterprise data centers and cloud infrastructure. This vulnerability allows authenticated local users to gain elevated privileges due to a flaw in the kernel-mode driver’s handling of exceptional conditions.
Intel is a dominant force in global networking hardware. Its Ethernet controllers power millions of servers and workstations worldwide, making vulnerabilities in its drivers highly significant for the security posture of large organizations.
Technical Information
CVE-2025-20093 is rooted in improper checking for unusual or exceptional conditions (CWE-754) in the Linux kernel-mode driver for Intel 800 Series Ethernet controllers. The flaw exists in driver versions before 1.17.2. When the driver encounters certain system states or errors, it fails to properly validate or handle these conditions. Because the driver operates in kernel space, this oversight can be exploited by an authenticated local user to manipulate driver state or memory, resulting in privilege escalation.
The vulnerability is documented in Intel Security Advisory INTEL-SA-01296. No public code snippets or proof of concept are available at this time. The root cause is insufficient validation logic in the driver’s handling of exceptional or error conditions, which can lead to unintended code paths or state corruption.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Intel 800 Series Ethernet Linux kernel-mode driver
- All versions before 1.17.2 are affected
- Only Linux systems using these drivers are impacted
Vendor Security History
Intel has previously addressed similar privilege escalation and input validation vulnerabilities in its Ethernet driver stack. Notable examples include:
- INTEL-SA-00918: Multiple high and critical severity vulnerabilities in Intel 800 Series Ethernet drivers, including improper input validation and protection mechanism failures.
- INTEL-SA-01144: Escalation of privilege and denial of service vulnerabilities in Intel Ethernet Adapter Complete Driver Pack.
Intel typically issues coordinated disclosures and timely patches, reflecting a mature vulnerability management process.