CVE-2018-12201 in Core Processor 7th Generation
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow vulnerability in Platform Sample / Silicon Reference firmware for 8th Generation Intel(R) Core Processor, 7th Generation Intel(R) Core Processor, Intel(R) Pentium(R) Silver J5005 Processor, Intel(R) Pentium(R) Silver N5000 Processor, Intel(R) Celeron(R) J4105 Processor, Intel(R) Celeron(R) J4005 Processor, Intel Celeron(R) N4100 Processor and Intel(R) Celeron N4000 Processor may allow privileged user to potentially execute arbitrary code via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2020
This buffer overflow vulnerability exists within the Platform Sample and Silicon Reference firmware components of several Intel processor generations including 8th and 7th generation Core processors as well as various Pentium and Celeron models. The flaw represents a classic software security weakness where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious data to overwrite adjacent memory regions, potentially leading to privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability specifically affects systems utilizing Intel's firmware implementations that govern low-level hardware interactions and system initialization processes. The attack vector requires local access with existing user privileges, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited by users who already have system access but lack administrative rights.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within firmware routines that handle buffer operations during system boot and runtime processes. When firmware components process data structures without adequate boundary checks, attackers can craft malicious inputs that exceed allocated buffer space and overwrite critical memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, or privilege level indicators. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflows, though the specific context here involves firmware-level memory management. The vulnerability's exploitation potential increases significantly due to the privileged nature of firmware operations, which typically execute with highest system privileges and can directly manipulate hardware states.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass complete system compromise and potential data exfiltration. Since firmware operates at the lowest privilege level and has direct hardware control capabilities, successful exploitation could enable attackers to modify system boot processes, install persistent backdoors, or manipulate hardware security features such as Intel's Trusted Execution Technology. The affected processors span multiple generations and product lines, indicating a broad attack surface that could impact enterprise servers, desktop systems, and embedded devices. The local access requirement means that attackers need to already have user-level access to the system, but this limitation does not mitigate the severity since the privilege escalation could be achieved through social engineering or other initial compromise vectors. Organizations using these processors face potential risks to system integrity, data confidentiality, and overall security posture, particularly in environments where physical security controls are insufficient.
Mitigation strategies should focus on firmware updates from Intel and system administrators implementing comprehensive security monitoring. The primary defense involves applying official firmware patches that correct the buffer overflow conditions through proper bounds checking and memory allocation practices. System administrators should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and firmware integrity verification tools. From an operational security perspective, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of affected systems and implement network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques and firmware manipulation tactics, emphasizing the need for layered defenses that protect both software and hardware attack surfaces. Additionally, implementing robust patch management processes and maintaining current firmware versions becomes critical for preventing exploitation of such low-level vulnerabilities that can bypass traditional software security controls.