CVE-2025-31648 Privilege escalation in Intel(R) Processor Family may allow an escalation of privilege. Startup code and smm adversary with a privileged user combined with a high complexity attack may enable escalation of privilege. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are present with special internal knowledge and requires no user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (low), integrity (low) and availability (none) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (low), integrity (low) and availability (none) impacts.
A local attacker with privileged access can exploit improper microcode handling to escalate privileges and compromise system integrity.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- An administrator
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-31648?
CVE-2025-31648 is a low-severity vulnerability in Intel(R) Processor Family may allow an escalation of privilege. Startup code and smm adversary with a privileged user combined with a high complexity attack may enable escalation of privilege. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are present with special internal knowledge and requires no user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (low), integrity (low) and availability (none) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (low), integrity (low) and availability (none) impacts., published on 10 Feb 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Improper handling of values in the microcode flow for some Intel(R) Processor Family may allow an escalation of privilege. Startup code and smm adversary with a privileged user combined with a high complexity attack may enable escalation of privilege. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are present with special internal knowledge and requires no user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (low), integrity (low) and availability (none) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (low), integrity (low) and availability (none) impacts.
Weakness: CWE-229
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-31648?
Linux distribution packages (1)
ucode-intel openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 20260210-1.1 |
How do I fix CVE-2025-31648?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2025-31648 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2025-31648 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2025-31648, BELL-CVE-2025-31648, DEBIAN-CVE-2025-31648, GHSA-cf43-7r7r-9f4f, OESA-2026-1418, OESA-2026-1419 and 7 more.