CVE-2017-5721 in NUC7i3BNK
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient input validation in system firmware for Intel NUC7i3BNK, NUC7i3BNH, NUC7i5BNK, NUC7i5BNH, NUC7i7BNH versions BN0049 and below allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code via manipulation of memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2019
This vulnerability resides in the firmware of Intel NUC7i3BNK, NUC7i3BNH, NUC7i5BNK, NUC7i5BNH, and NUC7i7BNH microcomputers with firmware versions BN0049 and earlier. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the system firmware that governs these devices. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating memory structures to execute arbitrary code locally on the affected systems. The vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the device's firmware execution environment and allows for privilege escalation from standard user level to system level access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient input validation as classified by CWE-20, which is a fundamental weakness in software design that allows malicious inputs to bypass validation checks. The flaw manifests when the firmware fails to properly validate or sanitize inputs received through memory manipulation operations, creating an execution path that adversaries can exploit to inject and run unauthorized code. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in the firmware's integrity protection mechanisms.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations deploying these Intel NUC devices, as local attackers with physical access or those already compromised within the network can leverage this weakness to gain complete system control. The attack vector requires local access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical security is insufficient or where insider threats exist. Once exploited, attackers can establish persistent backdoors, extract sensitive data, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks against the broader network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate firmware updates from Intel to address the input validation flaws in the affected firmware versions. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected devices to firmware versions that contain patches for this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing robust physical security measures, network segmentation, and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and T1059 which covers 'Command and Scripting Interpreter' as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code and establish persistence. Regular firmware vulnerability assessments and maintaining an inventory of all firmware versions across the organization's infrastructure are essential practices to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.