CVE-2018-12181 in EDK II
Summary
by MITRE
Stack overflow in corrupted bmp for EDK II may allow unprivileged user to potentially enable denial of service or elevation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12181 represents a critical stack overflow condition within the EDK II firmware development environment, specifically when processing corrupted bitmap image files. This flaw exists in the firmware build tools and development infrastructure used by organizations to create UEFI firmware implementations. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and memory boundary checking during the parsing of bitmap file headers and image data structures. When a maliciously crafted or corrupted bmp file is processed by EDK II tools, the improper handling of image dimensions and pixel data can lead to buffer overflows in the stack memory region. The vulnerability affects the firmware development workflow rather than the end-user runtime environment, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on EDK II for creating secure firmware implementations. The stack overflow occurs during the conversion process of bitmap images into firmware-compatible formats, where the tool fails to properly validate the size parameters of the incoming image data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires local access to a system running EDK II development tools and the ability to introduce a corrupted bitmap file into the build process. An attacker with access to the development environment could potentially leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the build process, which typically runs with elevated permissions during firmware compilation. The stack overflow creates a condition where adjacent memory locations can be overwritten, potentially corrupting return addresses or other critical execution data. This memory corruption could lead to a denial of service by causing the build tool to crash or terminate unexpectedly, or more severely, allow privilege escalation if the attacker can control the overwritten memory contents to redirect execution flow. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which directly relates to improper handling of memory boundaries in the parsing logic. The attack surface is limited to the firmware development environment where EDK II tools are installed, but this represents a significant risk to organizations with centralized firmware development workflows.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it creates potential pathways for privilege escalation within the firmware development infrastructure. Organizations using EDK II for creating secure firmware implementations face the risk that an attacker with local access could compromise the build environment and potentially inject malicious code into the firmware images being produced. This represents a supply chain security risk where the integrity of the firmware development process is compromised. The vulnerability affects both the development team's productivity and the security posture of the final firmware products. In enterprise environments where firmware updates are critical for security, a compromised build environment could lead to the distribution of malicious firmware versions. The risk is particularly elevated in organizations that do not maintain strict access controls over their firmware development systems or that have legacy EDK II installations that have not been updated to patched versions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for execution through command-line interfaces and T1546.003 for privilege escalation through modifications to build systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-12181 should focus on immediate patching of EDK II installations to versions that include proper input validation and memory boundary checking for bitmap file processing. Organizations must ensure that all development systems running EDK II tools are updated to the latest stable releases that address this specific vulnerability. Access controls should be implemented to restrict local access to firmware development environments, particularly for individuals who do not require direct system access. Input sanitization measures should be enforced during the firmware build process, including validation of all image file formats before processing. Security monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual file processing activities within the development environment. Regular security assessments of the firmware development workflow should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other tools and components. The patching process should be prioritized in environments where firmware development systems are accessible to multiple users or where the build environment is not properly isolated from other network components. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing automated build system hardening measures and regular vulnerability scanning of their firmware development infrastructure to prevent similar issues from emerging in the future.