CVE-2018-3612 in NUC Kit
Summary
by MITRE
Intel NUC kits with insufficient input validation in system firmware, potentially allows a local attacker to elevate privileges to System Management Mode (SMM).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3612 affects Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) kits and represents a critical flaw in the system firmware that enables local privilege escalation to System Management Mode. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the firmware implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's security controls. The issue specifically impacts the firmware's ability to properly validate inputs received during system operations, potentially allowing unauthorized code execution with the highest privilege level available to the system.
The technical flaw manifests in the firmware's insufficient validation of user inputs and system parameters, which creates a potential entry point for privilege escalation attacks. When the firmware processes certain inputs without proper sanitization or validation checks, it can inadvertently allow malicious code to execute with System Management Mode privileges. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the firmware's security architecture where the boundary between normal operating system privileges and the more privileged SMM environment becomes compromised. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because SMM operates outside the normal operating system environment and has unrestricted access to system hardware and memory, making it a highly attractive target for attackers seeking persistent system control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the affected systems. Local attackers who can execute code on the target system can leverage this flaw to gain complete control over the hardware, potentially enabling data exfiltration, system manipulation, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The attack vector requires local access to the system, but once exploited, the consequences are severe as the attacker gains access to the most privileged execution mode available. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a common weakness in software systems, and represents a critical failure in firmware security implementation that can be exploited to bypass multiple layers of system protection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3612 primarily focus on firmware updates and system hardening measures. Intel has released firmware updates addressing this vulnerability, and system administrators should prioritize applying these patches to affected NUC kits. Additional protective measures include implementing secure boot configurations, enabling firmware write protection mechanisms, and monitoring for suspicious system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in firmware implementations and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of system firmware components. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms and regular security assessments to detect potential exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and potentially to persistence mechanisms that could be leveraged by attackers to maintain long-term access to compromised systems. The vulnerability underscores the critical nature of firmware security and the need for security professionals to treat firmware components with the same rigor as traditional software applications.