CVE-2018-3688 in Quartus
Summary
by MITRE
Unquoted service paths in Intel Quartus Prime Programmer and Tools in versions 15.1 - 18.0 allow a local attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3688 represents a critical security flaw in Intel Quartus Prime Programmer and Tools versions 15.1 through 18.0, where unquoted service paths create exploitable conditions for local privilege escalation attacks. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-428 category of Unquoted Service Path, which is a well-documented weakness in Windows service configuration that allows attackers to place malicious executables in service paths without proper quotation. The flaw specifically affects the installation and execution environment of Intel's FPGA development tools, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on these platforms for embedded systems development and hardware programming.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from how the Intel Quartus Prime installer configures Windows services without properly quoting service path strings. When Windows attempts to start a service, it searches for executables in the specified path and all parent directories until it finds a matching executable name. This behavior creates opportunities for attackers to place malicious binaries in directories along the path that are accessible to the service account. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no user interaction and can be exploited by any local user with access to the system, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the service account, which typically has elevated permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3688 extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to development environments and potentially compromise the integrity of hardware programming processes. Development teams working with Intel FPGA tools are particularly at risk since these systems often contain sensitive intellectual property and may be deployed in environments where security controls are less stringent than in production systems. The vulnerability affects the entire spectrum of Intel Quartus Prime installations, including both the programmer and the broader suite of development tools, making it a widespread concern across embedded systems development organizations. Organizations that use these tools for firmware development, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or embedded system programming face significant risks from this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3688 should focus on immediate remediation through proper service path quoting and system hardening. The most effective approach involves updating to Intel Quartus Prime versions that address this vulnerability, as Intel released patches specifically targeting this issue. System administrators should conduct thorough inventory audits of all installed Intel Quartus Prime versions and verify service configurations to ensure that all service paths are properly quoted. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security assessments of development environments can significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for suspicious service execution patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and service configuration standards, as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques. Regular security training for development teams and implementation of security controls during the software development lifecycle can prevent similar issues from arising in future deployments.