CVE-2017-9457 in Intense PC
Summary
by MITRE
Intense PC Phoenix SecureCore UEFI firmware does not perform capsule signature validation before upgrading the system firmware. The absence of signature validation allows an attacker with administrator privileges to flash a modified UEFI BIOS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9457 affects the Intense PC Phoenix SecureCore UEFI firmware implementation, representing a critical security flaw in the firmware update mechanism that undermines the integrity of the system's firmware provisioning process. This issue resides within the UEFI firmware stack where the system fails to validate the digital signatures of firmware capsules before executing firmware upgrades, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors who possess administrative privileges. The flaw directly impacts the firmware security model by bypassing the fundamental security controls designed to ensure only legitimate firmware modifications can be installed on the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the firmware's failure to perform cryptographic validation of firmware update packages before installation. In a properly secured UEFI environment, firmware capsules should be validated against trusted certificates or public keys to verify their authenticity and integrity before any system modification occurs. The absence of this validation step allows attackers to substitute legitimate firmware updates with malicious payloads, effectively enabling firmware-level code execution and persistent system compromise. This weakness operates at the intersection of CWE-327 (Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm) and CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions), as the firmware fails to implement proper cryptographic validation while also maintaining overly permissive update mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers with administrative access to achieve persistent system compromise through firmware-level modifications. Once an attacker successfully flashes a modified UEFI BIOS, they can establish persistent backdoors that survive operating system reinstallation and traditional security measures. This capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 (Local Port Forwarding) and T1542.001 (Pre-OS Boot) by allowing attackers to maintain access through firmware-level persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability essentially provides a path for attackers to compromise the foundational system security, as UEFI firmware operates at a level below the operating system and can remain undetected by traditional endpoint protection solutions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of firmware update policies that enforce signature validation and certificate verification before any firmware upgrade occurs. System administrators should ensure that all firmware updates are obtained from trusted sources and that the firmware validation mechanisms are properly configured and enforced. Organizations must implement robust firmware integrity monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized firmware modifications and establish secure boot chains that prevent unsigned firmware from executing. The remediation process should include verification of firmware signatures through established certificate authorities and implementation of proper access controls to prevent unauthorized administrative access to firmware update mechanisms. Additionally, regular firmware audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other firmware implementations and ensure comprehensive system security posture maintenance.