Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for…: Improper Authentication
CVE-2026-20891 is a high-severity improper authentication vulnerability in Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.9 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, 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 0.17% 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 24.10.0 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 24.10.0 | 24.10.0 |
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
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- 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
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- LowPerformance or availability is reduced.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 6.3 | Medium | CNA (intel.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.9 | High | NVD |
Official description
Improper authentication for some Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows within Ring 2: Device Drivers may allow an escalation of privilege. Unprivileged software adversary with an unauthenticated user combined with a low complexity attack may enable local code execution. 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 (none) and availability (none) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (high), integrity (low) and availability (low) impacts.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication
When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.
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
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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