CVE-2018-3641 in Remote Keyboard
Summary
by MITRE
Escalation of privilege in all versions of the Intel Remote Keyboard allows a network attacker to inject keystrokes as a local user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3641 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Intel's Remote Keyboard functionality across all affected versions. This security weakness specifically targets the Intel Remote Keyboard software component that enables network-based keyboard input injection capabilities. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authentication mechanisms within the remote keyboard protocol implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust model and gain elevated privileges.
This technical flaw operates through a fundamental weakness in the keyboard input handling process where network-based keystroke injection is permitted without proper verification of the source or authorization level of the input. The vulnerability allows an attacker positioned on the network to manipulate the keyboard input stream and inject keystrokes that appear to originate from a local authenticated user. This creates a scenario where network attackers can execute arbitrary commands, access sensitive information, or perform actions that would normally require local user privileges. The flaw exists at the protocol level where the system fails to properly authenticate and validate keyboard input sequences received over the network, enabling attackers to bypass normal access controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3641 extends beyond simple keystroke injection to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Network attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute privileged operations, modify system configurations, access restricted files, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the affected systems. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access to the target machine, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to gain unauthorized access to corporate networks or personal computing environments. This flaw essentially allows attackers to perform actions that would normally require local administrator privileges, effectively elevating their access level within the compromised system.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control in software implementations. The flaw demonstrates how insufficient authentication mechanisms can lead to privilege escalation scenarios where network-based attackers can manipulate system inputs to gain unauthorized access. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers can leverage the injected keystrokes to execute malicious commands and scripts on the target system. Organizations utilizing Intel Remote Keyboard functionality are particularly vulnerable since the attack vector requires no specialized tools or physical access, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3641 should focus on immediate software updates from Intel to address the underlying authentication and input validation flaws. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the remote keyboard functionality to trusted networks only. Additionally, organizations should disable the remote keyboard feature entirely if it is not essential for operations, as this eliminates the attack surface entirely. Regular monitoring of network traffic for anomalous keyboard input patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should also implement strict access controls and ensure that only authorized personnel have access to systems utilizing this functionality, while maintaining detailed audit logs of all keyboard input activities to facilitate forensic analysis in case of compromise.