CVE-2023-25944

Local privilege escalation via uncontrolled search path

Published Aug 11, 2023 · Updated Oct 10, 2024

Uncontrolled search path handling in Intel VCUST Tool downloads before February 3, 2023 allows local users to escalate privileges. Intel identifies an uncontrolled search-path element but does not disclose the executable call, resource name, or writable directory involved. Exploitation requires local authenticated access, low privileges, and separate user interaction; successful abuse grants elevated rights.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled search path handling in Intel VCUST Tool downloads before February 3, 2023 allows local users to escalate privileges. Intel identifies an uncontrolled search-path element but does not disclose the executable call, resource name, or writable directory involved. Exploitation requires local authenticated access, low privileges, and separate user interaction; successful abuse grants elevated rights.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-25944
Published
Aug 11, 2023
Updated
Oct 10, 2024
Vendor
Intel Corporation
Product
Intel VCUST Tool
Classifications
CWE-427, CAPEC-471, T1574.008
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 11, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 10, 2024Record 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=downloaded before February 3nd 2023

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Intel Corporation · Intel VCUST Toolversion=downloaded before February 3nd 2023

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.7Intel CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
CAPEC-471Search Order Hijacking
T1574.008Path Interception by Search Order Hijacking

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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