CVE-2018-3652 in Xeon E3
Summary
by MITRE
Existing UEFI setting restrictions for DCI (Direct Connect Interface) in 5th and 6th generation Intel Xeon Processor E3 Family, Intel Xeon Scalable processors, and Intel Xeon Processor D Family allows a limited physical presence attacker to potentially access platform secrets via debug interfaces.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-3652 represents a critical security flaw in Intel's UEFI firmware implementation that affects multiple processor families including the 5th and 6th generation Intel Xeon Processor E3 Family, Intel Xeon Scalable processors, and Intel Xeon Processor D Family. This issue specifically targets the Direct Connect Interface (DCI) functionality within the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface environment, where existing security controls prove insufficient to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive platform information. The vulnerability operates under the principle that certain UEFI settings designed to restrict DCI functionality can be bypassed by an attacker who has physical access to the target system, creating a pathway for extraction of confidential data through debug interfaces that should remain protected.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate enforcement of UEFI security policies governing the Direct Connect Interface, which is designed to provide debugging capabilities for system development and maintenance purposes. Under normal circumstances, DCI interfaces should be restricted to authorized personnel with proper authentication and authorization credentials. However, the flaw in Intel's implementation allows attackers with limited physical presence to potentially manipulate UEFI settings that control DCI access, thereby gaining access to platform secrets such as cryptographic keys, system configuration data, and other sensitive information that should remain protected. This represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement within the firmware security model.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3652 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to critical system secrets that could enable further compromise of the target environment. Attackers with physical access can potentially extract cryptographic keys used for system authentication, encryption, or digital signatures, which could then be used to impersonate the system or decrypt sensitive data. The vulnerability also exposes system configuration information that could aid in crafting more sophisticated attacks against the platform. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK framework category of "System Firmware" and "Persistence" techniques, where attackers leverage firmware-level access to establish long-term presence and maintain control over target systems.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly concerning given that it affects enterprise and data center server platforms, where the exposure of platform secrets could compromise entire network infrastructures. The limited physical presence requirement means that the attack vector is accessible to adversaries who have physical access to systems, which could include insiders, service personnel, or attackers who have gained access to secure facilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in firmware environments, and represents a significant weakness in the security architecture of Intel's processor families. Organizations should implement comprehensive firmware security monitoring, ensure proper UEFI configuration management, and consider additional physical security controls to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of firmware security in enterprise environments and demonstrates the need for robust access control mechanisms at all levels of the system architecture.