CVE-2022-25987Network attack vector

Privilege escalation via mishandled Unicode source

Published Feb 16, 2023 · Updated Jan 27, 2025

Improper Unicode handling in Intel C++ Compiler Classic before 2021.6 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges through compiled source code. Release 2021.6 adds Unicode-security source checking, but Intel has not disclosed which Unicode sequences earlier releases mishandle or how compilation changes. Exploitation requires user interaction with network-delivered source code, and the published consequence is privilege escalation across a security boundary.

CVSS severity8.3
High
EPSS probability0.52%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper Unicode handling in Intel C++ Compiler Classic before 2021.6 allows remote attackers to escalate privileges through compiled source code. Release 2021.6 adds Unicode-security source checking, but Intel has not disclosed which Unicode sequences earlier releases mishandle or how compilation changes. Exploitation requires user interaction with network-delivered source code, and the published consequence is privilege escalation across a security boundary.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-25987
Published
Feb 16, 2023
Updated
Jan 27, 2025
Vendor
Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
Product
Intel C++ Compiler Classic
Classifications
T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 16, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 27, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=before version 2021.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc. · Intel C++ Compiler Classicversion=before version 2021.6

Published CVSS scores

8.3Intel CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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