Introduction
Privilege escalation on enterprise Linux servers can undermine network segmentation and expose sensitive workloads. CVE-2025-24325 impacts the Linux kernel-mode driver for Intel 800 Series Ethernet controllers, a critical component in modern data centers and cloud infrastructure. This vulnerability allows authenticated local users to potentially gain elevated privileges due to improper input validation in driver versions before 1.17.2.
About Intel and the 800 Series Ethernet Controllers: Intel is a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, with its networking hardware deployed in countless enterprise and cloud environments. The 800 Series Ethernet family powers high-performance networking for servers, storage, and infrastructure, making vulnerabilities in these drivers especially impactful for operational security and uptime.
Technical Information
CVE-2025-24325 is caused by improper input validation in the Linux kernel-mode driver for Intel 800 Series Ethernet controllers. The vulnerability is present in driver versions prior to 1.17.2. The flaw is classified under CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation).
An authenticated user with local access can provide malformed input to the driver. If the driver fails to properly validate this input, it may process unintended or malicious data, resulting in privilege escalation. The vulnerability exists in privileged code paths within the driver, increasing the risk of system compromise if exploited. No public code snippets or detailed exploit vectors are available at this time.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Intel 800 Series Ethernet Linux kernel-mode driver, versions before 1.17.2
- Only Linux systems using these drivers are affected
- All configurations using affected driver versions are vulnerable
Vendor Security History
Intel has previously addressed similar input validation vulnerabilities in its networking drivers, such as those affecting the Intel 700 Series Ethernet family. The company follows coordinated disclosure practices and typically releases timely patches and advisories. However, the frequency of recent vulnerabilities in Intel's networking stack highlights persistent challenges in secure driver development.