# CVE-2018-3701: Privilege escalation in Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software Advisory

> An authenticated local user can escalate privileges due to improper directory permissions in the Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software installer.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 17 May 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-qg6q-7mwr-m5vq

## What is CVE-2018-3701?

CVE-2018-3701 is a high-severity vulnerability in Intel Proset\/Wireless Wifi, published on 17 May 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Improper directory permissions in the installer for Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software version 20.100 and earlier may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.

Weakness: CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-3701?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Intel Proset\/Wireless Wifi.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-3701?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-3701 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-3701 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-3701 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Intel Proset\/Wireless Wifi

- [CVE-2020-12313](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-12313/): Privilege escalation in Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-20789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20789/): Privilege escalation in Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows (high 8.4)
- [CVE-2026-20727](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20727/): Null dereference in Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software for Windows (high 8.3)
- [CVE-2026-20741](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20741/): Missing authorization in Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software (high 8.3)
- [CVE-2026-20776](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-20776/): Denial of service in Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software (high 8.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-3701 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-3701 is a high-severity vulnerability in Intel Proset\/Wireless Wifi, published on 17 May 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-3701 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Intel Proset\/Wireless Wifi. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-3701/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-3701/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-3701
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-3701
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-3701

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-3701/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.