Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for…: Improper Privilege Management
CVE-2026-20890 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.3 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows 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 0.13% 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
- Update Proset/wireless WiFi to 24.30.0 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on intel.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows | Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows | See references | Not stated |
| Intel | Proset/wireless WiFi | before 24.30.0 | 24.30.0 |
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
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- LowSome restricted data can be read.
- Integrity
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 7.1 | High | CNA (intel.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.3 | High | NVD |
Official description
Improper privilege management for some Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows within Ring 2: Privileged Process may allow an escalation of privilege. Unprivileged software adversary with an unauthenticated user combined with a high complexity attack may enable escalation of privilege. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are not present without special internal knowledge and requires no user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (low), integrity (low) and availability (high) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (low), integrity (low) and availability (high) impacts.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management
The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
- Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
- Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.
More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows
- 8.6 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.9 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
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