Intel(R) Xeon(R) 6 processor E-Cores firmware: Insufficient Control Flow Management
CVE-2025-20004 is a high-severity insufficient control flow management vulnerability in Intel(R) Xeon(R) 6 processor E-Cores firmware, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected Intel(R) Xeon(R) 6 processor E-Cores firmware versions: See references. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.15% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Intel(R) Xeon(R) 6 processor E-Cores firmware you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel(R) Xeon(R) 6 processor E-Cores firmware | Intel(R) Xeon(R) 6 processor E-Cores firmware | See references | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by CNA (intel.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.5 | High | CNA (intel.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.2 | High | CNA (intel.com) |
Official description
Insufficient control flow management in the Alias Checking Trusted Module for some Intel(R) Xeon(R) 6 processor E-Cores firmware may allow a privileged user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Insufficient Control Flow Management
The code does not sufficiently manage its control flow during execution, creating conditions in which the control flow can be modified in unexpected ways.
More Insufficient Control Flow Management vulnerabilities (CWE-691)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Recent Insufficient Control Flow Management vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.