CVE-2018-3645 in Remote Keyboard
Summary
by MITRE
Escalation of privilege in all versions of the Intel Remote Keyboard allows a local attacker to inject keystrokes into another remote keyboard session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3645 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Intel's remote keyboard implementation across all affected versions. This security weakness specifically targets the remote keyboard functionality that enables users to control computers from remote locations, creating a dangerous attack surface that can be exploited by local adversaries. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and session isolation mechanisms within the remote keyboard subsystem, allowing malicious actors with local access to manipulate keyboard input streams and inject unauthorized keystrokes into active remote sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a fundamental flaw in how the remote keyboard service handles input processing and session management. When a local attacker gains access to a system running vulnerable Intel remote keyboard software, they can leverage this privilege to inject keystrokes into other active remote keyboard sessions. This occurs because the system fails to properly validate or isolate keyboard input streams between different user sessions, creating a pathway for cross-session injection attacks. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to execute arbitrary commands or input sequences that can be interpreted by the target remote session, potentially leading to complete system compromise or unauthorized access to sensitive applications and data.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3645 extends far beyond simple keystroke injection, as it enables sophisticated attack scenarios that can result in significant security breaches. Local attackers can use this vulnerability to escalate their privileges from standard user accounts to administrative levels by injecting commands that bypass authentication mechanisms or manipulate system configurations. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users access systems through remote keyboard sessions, as it allows attackers to monitor and manipulate activities across different user sessions. The attack can be used to capture sensitive information, execute malicious commands, or establish persistent access to target systems, making it a highly valuable vector for advanced persistent threats.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper output sanitization and inadequate input validation, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves executing commands through legitimate system interfaces. The weakness creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited for lateral movement within networks, as attackers can use the injected keystrokes to navigate systems, access restricted resources, or establish backdoors. Organizations implementing Intel remote keyboard solutions should consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their security frameworks, as it undermines fundamental security assumptions about session isolation and input integrity. The flaw represents a critical gap in the security architecture of remote keyboard implementations and highlights the importance of proper access controls and input validation mechanisms in all system components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3645 require immediate implementation of software updates from Intel, which address the underlying session isolation and input validation issues. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit local access to systems running remote keyboard services, deploy monitoring solutions to detect anomalous keyboard input patterns, and establish strict access controls for systems that utilize remote keyboard functionality. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing multi-factor authentication and privileged access management solutions to reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues within the broader IT infrastructure.