CVE-2025-8301

Status: AnalyzedHigh (7.8)—

Realtek RTL8811AU rtwlanu.sys N6CSet_DOT11_CIPHER_DEFAULT_KEY Heap-based Buffer Overflow Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Realtek RTL8811AU drivers. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists within the N6CSet_DOT11_CIPHER_DEFAULT_KEY function. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-24786.

CVSS

Version: 3.0
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Base score: 7.8

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.15%
Percentile among all scored CVEs: 4
Score date: 10/5/2026

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

🎯 ATT&CK techniques

How this vulnerability is exploited and what the attacker gains, in MITRE ATT&CK terms.

ExploitationT1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalationprivilege escalation85 %
Primary impactT1059 Command and Scripting Interpreterexecution90 %

Vector CVSS AV:L/PR:L/UI:N indica acceso local sin interacción de usuario. Heap buffer overflow en driver permite escalada de privilegios a SYSTEM con ejecución de código arbitrario.

Inferred by our analysis agent from the official description, CVSS vector and CWE, and checked by a supervisor. May contain errors.

🛡️ ATT&CK mitigations that cover these techniques

Execution Prevention Threat Intelligence Program Restrict Web-Based Content Privileged Account Management Limit Software Installation Behavior Prevention on Endpoint

Affected technologies (1)

Realtek — Wi-fi USB Driver

CWEs

CWE-122

References

https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-25-880/

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show

{
  "id": "CVE-2025-8301",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "ssvcV203": [
      {
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "ssvcData": {
          "id": "CVE-2025-8301",
          "role": "CISA Coordinator",
          "options": [
            {
              "exploitation": "none"
            },
            {
              "automatable": "no"
            },
            {
              "technicalImpact": "total"
            }
          ],
          "version": "2.0.3",
          "timestamp": "2025-09-03T15:09:55.736510Z"
        }
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV30": [
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.0",
          "baseScore": 7.8,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 5.9,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Realtek",
          "product": "RTL8811AU",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "1030.38.712.2019"
            }
          ],
          "defaultStatus": "unknown"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2025-09-02T20:15:39.030",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-25-880/",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Secondary",
      "source": "zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-122"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "Realtek RTL8811AU rtwlanu.sys N6CSet_DOT11_CIPHER_DEFAULT_KEY Heap-based Buffer Overflow Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Realtek RTL8811AU drivers. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.\n\nThe specific flaw exists within the N6CSet_DOT11_CIPHER_DEFAULT_KEY function. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-24786."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T10:06:42.477",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:realtek:wi-fi_usb_driver:*:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "64315E56-CCBD-46FE-AE2C-185A856157BA",
              "versionEndExcluding": "1030.52.0325.2025"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        },
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:h:realtek:rtl8811au:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "884B566E-208D-47EE-AFCF-56D0D2C91B4F"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ],
      "operator": "AND"
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "zdi-disclosures@trendmicro.com"
}