Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a local privilege-escalation issue involving Intel Quick Assist Technology on some Intel platforms. It requires an already privileged local adversary and special internal knowledge, but could let them gain stronger kernel-level control over affected systems. The business risk is highest on servers using Intel QAT in sensitive or multi-tenant environments.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for servers processing sensitive workloads with Intel QAT, especially shared, virtualized, or regulated environments. It is less urgent than remotely exploitable flaws because an attacker needs existing privileged local access, but it can worsen the impact of a prior compromise.
Technical view
The CVE describes a missing protection mechanism for an alternate hardware interface in Intel QAT within Ring 0 kernel context. CVSS 3.1 is 7.9 with local access, low attack complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality and integrity impact. Exact affected platform details are deferred to vendor references.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to Intel platforms using affected Intel Quick Assist Technology components. The supplied bundle does not enumerate specific models, firmware, drivers, or operating-system package versions, so teams must confirm applicability against Intel SA-01406 and relevant OS vendor advisories.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show KEV listing or active exploitation. Exploitation requires local access, high privileges, attack requirements, and special internal knowledge. This is not described as a remote unauthenticated issue, but it could matter after initial compromise or insider misuse.
Researcher notes
Key gaps are the exact affected Intel platform list and concrete fixed versions. The bundle references Intel, Red Hat CVE data, Bugzilla, CSAF VEX, and RHSA errata, but does not include detailed package or firmware mappings. Avoid assuming exploit availability or affected products beyond those sources.
Mitigation direction
- Review Intel SA-01406 for affected platforms and vendor-directed updates.
- Apply relevant Red Hat RHSA-2026:6888 updates where applicable.
- Check other OS or appliance vendors for Intel QAT-related guidance.
- Restrict privileged local access to systems using Intel QAT.
- Monitor privileged activity on affected high-value systems.
Validation and detection
- Inventory systems with Intel Quick Assist Technology enabled or installed.
- Compare hardware and software versions against Intel SA-01406.
- Check Red Hat systems for RHSA-2026:6888 applicability and update status.
- Confirm whether QAT drivers, firmware, or platform packages are present.
- Document systems judged unaffected and the evidence used.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-1220: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCWE-1299: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2025-35998 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.9 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
3 official scoresWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N1.55.8intelCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N1.55.8redhat-SADPCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——intelVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
7HighVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.9HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.9HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- ADP timelineredhat-SADP
Made public.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- ADP timelineredhat-SADP
Reported to Red Hat.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
- 2026-02-10T17:02:49.270Z: Reported to Red Hat.
- 2026-02-10T16:26:00.829Z: Made public.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01406.htmlCVE reference, intel
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-35998CVE reference, redhat-SADP · vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT
- RHBZ#2438523CVE reference, redhat-SADP · issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2025/cve-2025-35998.jsonCVE reference, redhat-SADP · x_sadp-csaf-vex
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:6888CVE reference, redhat-SADP · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Insufficient Granularity of Access Control
Insufficient Granularity of Access Control represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
Missing Protection Mechanism for Alternate Hardware Interface
Missing Protection Mechanism for Alternate Hardware Interface represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.