CVE-2018-3635 in Rapid Store Technology
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient input validation in installer in Intel Rapid Store Technology (RST) before version 16.7 may allow an unprivileged user to potentially elevate privileges or cause an installer denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3635 resides within the installer component of Intel Rapid Storage Technology RST software ecosystem, representing a critical security flaw that affects versions prior to 16.7. This issue manifests as insufficient input validation during the installation process, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation that could potentially allow unprivileged users to escalate their privileges or disrupt system operations through local access. The vulnerability specifically targets the installer executable which handles various user inputs and system parameters during the installation sequence, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate sanitization and validation of input parameters passed to the installer module. When an unprivileged user executes the installer with malformed or specially crafted inputs, the system fails to properly validate these parameters before processing them, leading to potential code execution or privilege escalation opportunities. This vulnerability operates under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation," which is a fundamental weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious data that can be processed without proper verification. The installer's failure to implement proper input sanitization creates a condition where user-supplied data can influence system behavior in unintended ways, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution at elevated privilege levels.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where local access is commonly available to users. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential denial of service conditions that could prevent legitimate system installations or updates. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain administrative privileges on systems running vulnerable versions of Intel RST, potentially compromising entire network infrastructures where these systems reside. The local access requirement means that the attack surface is limited to systems where users already have physical or network access, but this still represents a substantial security risk in environments where user access controls are not properly enforced.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2018-3635 primarily involves upgrading to Intel Rapid Storage Technology version 16.7 or later, which includes proper input validation mechanisms that prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability. Organizations should also implement strict access controls to limit local system access and ensure that only authorized personnel can execute installer components. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough inventory checks to identify all systems running vulnerable versions of Intel RST and prioritize their remediation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the installer as a vector for gaining elevated system privileges. Security teams should monitor for suspicious installer execution patterns and implement endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all system components remain up to date with the latest security patches and that no vulnerable versions of Intel RST remain in production environments.