CVE-2025-31936
Description
A flaw was found in Intel(R) Xeon(R) 6 processors when using Intel(R) TDX within System Management Mode (SMM). Improper handling of overlap between protected memory ranges may allow a local attacker with privileged user access to escalate privileges. This vulnerability could lead to high impact on confidentiality and integrity of the system.
Statement
This Important privilege escalation flaw affects Intel Xeon 6 Processors when Intel TDX is enabled, allowing a privileged local attacker to escalate privileges within the System Management Mode (SMM). Exploitation requires a high complexity attack and specific internal knowledge, impacting the confidentiality and integrity of the system.
Mitigation
This vulnerability only affects systems using Intel Trust Domain Extensions (TDX) on Intel Xeon 6 processors. Systems not using Intel TDX are not vulnerable to this issue. Disabling Intel TDX, where feasible, removes the exposure to this vulnerability.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 5.7 | N/A | N/A |
| Attack Vector | Local | N/A | N/A |
| Attack Complexity | High | N/A | N/A |
| Privileges Required | High | N/A | N/A |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | N/A |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | N/A |
| Confidentiality | High | N/A | N/A |
| Integrity Impact | High | N/A | N/A |
| Availability Impact | None | N/A | N/A |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Red Hat CVSS v3 Score Explanation
Scope corrected from S:C to S:U — attacker scope does not leave the chip firmware. Intel CVSSv4 explicitly sets SC:N/SI:N/SA:N confirming no subsequent system impact.
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Memory
If the untrusted pointer is used in a read operation, an attacker might be able to read sensitive portions of memory.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
If the untrusted pointer references a memory location that is not accessible to the program, or points to a location that is "malformed" or larger than expected by a read or write operation, the application may terminate unexpectedly.
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands; Modify Memory
If the untrusted pointer is used in a function call, or points to unexpected data in a write operation, then code execution may be possible.
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