CVE-2018-3683 in Quartus Prime
Summary
by MITRE
Unquoted service paths in Intel Quartus Prime in versions 15.1 - 18.0 allow a local attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3683 resides within Intel Quartus Prime software versions 15.1 through 18.0, representing a critical security flaw that exploits unquoted service paths. This issue fundamentally stems from how the software handles service installation paths, creating an environment where malicious actors can potentially escalate privileges and execute unauthorized code. The vulnerability specifically affects the Windows operating system environment where Intel Quartus Prime is installed, making it particularly concerning for users working in embedded systems development and FPGA design environments.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of service path strings during the installation process of Intel Quartus Prime components. When services are installed without proper quotation marks around paths that contain spaces, the Windows service manager performs a path search that can be manipulated by attackers. This occurs because Windows follows a specific search order when resolving unquoted paths, potentially allowing execution of binaries located in directories that are not intended to be part of the service execution chain. The flaw falls under the category of path manipulation vulnerabilities and directly relates to CWE-428, which describes the issue of unquoted service paths in Windows environments.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant attack surface for local adversaries who have access to the system where Intel Quartus Prime is installed. An attacker with standard user privileges can potentially place malicious executables in directories that Windows will search through when resolving the unquoted service path, thereby achieving privilege escalation to SYSTEM level execution. The implications extend beyond simple code execution, as this vulnerability can be leveraged to establish persistent backdoors or deploy additional malicious payloads within development environments. This is particularly concerning in enterprise settings where developers may have elevated privileges or where the software is used in production environments with sensitive intellectual property.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is primarily local and requires an attacker to have legitimate access to the target system. The exploitation process involves identifying the vulnerable service paths within the Intel Quartus Prime installation, creating malicious executables in the search path directories, and then triggering service restarts or system reboots to execute the malicious code. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter execution, and T1068, which addresses exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations using Intel Quartus Prime in development environments should consider this vulnerability as a potential entry point for adversaries seeking to compromise their development infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3683 should focus on immediate remediation through official Intel updates and patches, as well as implementing administrative controls to prevent unauthorized modifications to system paths. System administrators should conduct thorough inventory assessments to identify all instances of vulnerable Intel Quartus Prime versions and ensure proper patching procedures are followed. Additionally, implementing least privilege principles for user accounts and maintaining strict access controls around development environments can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper software installation practices and service path management, which aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-128 and other cybersecurity frameworks that emphasize the need for secure configuration management and service hardening. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions to monitor for suspicious file creation patterns in system directories that may indicate exploitation attempts.