CVE-2017-5704 in Intel
Summary
by MITRE
Platform sample code firmware included with 4th Gen Intel Core Processor, 5th Gen Intel Core Processor, 6th Gen Intel Core Processor, and 7th Gen Intel Core Processor potentially exposes password information in memory to a local attacker with administrative privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5704 represents a critical security flaw within the firmware of Intel's 4th through 7th generation Core processors, specifically affecting the platform sample code firmware that is distributed with these processors. This vulnerability stems from inadequate memory protection mechanisms within the processor's firmware implementation, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to sensitive credential information stored in system memory. The flaw is particularly concerning because it leverages the inherent privileges of administrative users to potentially extract password data, making it a significant concern for enterprise environments where administrative accounts are commonly targeted by attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the processor's firmware failing to properly isolate sensitive memory regions containing password information from unauthorized access attempts. When administrative users execute code with elevated privileges, the firmware's memory management does not adequately prevent access to memory locations where credential data might be cached or temporarily stored during authentication processes. This weakness allows a local attacker with administrative privileges to potentially read password information from memory through direct memory access techniques, exploiting the insufficient memory protection boundaries established by the firmware. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1003.001, which focuses on credential dumping through memory access methods.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5704 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly by attackers who have already gained administrative access to a system. Once an attacker has administrative privileges, they can leverage this vulnerability to extract cached passwords, stored credentials, and potentially other sensitive authentication data that might be temporarily resident in memory. This capability significantly undermines the security posture of affected systems, as it provides attackers with additional attack surface beyond their initial administrative access. The vulnerability affects multiple generations of Intel processors, amplifying its potential impact across a broad range of enterprise and consumer devices that rely on these processors for their core operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5704 require a multi-layered approach that includes firmware updates from Intel, along with administrative best practices to limit the scope of privilege escalation attacks. Organizations should prioritize applying the firmware patches provided by Intel to address the underlying memory protection flaws in the processor firmware. Additionally, implementing strict administrative access controls, monitoring for unusual memory access patterns, and employing credential management solutions that minimize credential caching in memory can significantly reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and privilege monitoring to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts that might exploit this vulnerability. The remediation process must account for the fact that this vulnerability affects the processor firmware itself, requiring careful coordination between system administrators, firmware vendors, and security teams to ensure complete protection across affected hardware platforms.