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CVE-2015-2291

From Exploited flaws, HARD’s guide to the flaws being used in attacks · Checked
This article is about a flaw in Intel Ethernet Diagnostics Driver for Windows. For every flaw being used in attacks, see Exploited flaws.

CVE-2015-2291 is a security flaw in Intel Ethernet Diagnostics Driver for Windows. Someone who already has a way in can use Intel Ethernet Diagnostics Driver for Windows to run their own code. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 10 Feb 2023, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]

Intel Ethernet Diagnostics Driver for Windows is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Intel has published a fix or advice.

Description

CISA calls it a denial-of-service in Intel Ethernet Diagnostics Driver for Windows. In its words: “Intel ethernet diagnostics driver for Windows IQVW32.sys and IQVW64.sys contain an unspecified vulnerability that allows for a denial-of-service (DoS).”[1]

The CVE record adds: “(1) IQVW32.sys before 1.3.1.0 and (2) IQVW64.sys before 1.3.1.0 in the Intel Ethernet diagnostics driver for Windows allows local users to cause a denial of service or possibly execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges via a crafted (a) 0x80862013, (b) 0x8086200B, (c) 0x8086200F, or (d) 0x80862007 IOCTL call.”[2]

The underlying weakness is improper input validation (CWE-20), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.

It scores 7.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it high, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]

Affected versions

NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Intel’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Intel Ethernet Diagnostics Driver for Windows.

Most families won’t have Intel Ethernet Diagnostics Driver for Windows; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.

Exploitation

CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 10 Feb 2023, 2,011 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 3 Mar 2023 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.

FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 16%. That’s in the top 4% of the flaws it scores.[4]

CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.

CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.

Fix

Intel has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]

  1. Check whether you use it.Intel Ethernet Diagnostics Driver for Windows is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
  2. Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 3 Mar 2023 to fix it.
  3. If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.

You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.

Timeline

DateEvent
The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 7.8.[2]
CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1]
FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 16%.[4]

See also

Other Intel flaws

  • CVE-2017-5689, Intel Active Management Technology (AMT), Small Business Technology (SBT), and Standard Manageability: privilege escalation ·

Other improper input validation flaws

  • CVE-2026-93952, Arista VeloCloud Orchestrator: improper input validation ·
  • CVE-2019-1068, Microsoft SQL Server: remote code execution ·
  • CVE-2026-12569, PTC Windchill and FlexPLM: improper input validation ·
  • CVE-2026-34910, Ubiquiti UniFi OS: improper input validation ·
  • CVE-2026-6973, Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM): improper input validation ·

Added the same day

  • CVE-2023-0669, Fortra GoAnywhere MFT: remote code execution ·
  • CVE-2022-24990, TerraMaster OS: OS remote command execution ·

References

  1. ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Intel Ethernet Diagnostics Driver for Windows Denial-of-Service Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 10 Feb 2023.
  2. ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2015-2291 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 9 Aug 2017.
  3. ^ Intel. Advisories and fixes: intel.com, security-center.intel.com.
  4. ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.157, percentile 96.9, 31 Oct 2026.
  5. CVE Program. “CVE-2015-2291”. The official CVE record.

This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.