CVE-2019-0120 in Pentium
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient key protection vulnerability in silicon reference firmware for Intel(R) Pentium(R) Processor J Series, Intel(R) Pentium(R) Processor N Series, Intel(R) Celeron(R) J Series, Intel(R) Celeron(R) N Series, Intel(R) Atom(R) Processor A Series, Intel(R) Atom(R) Processor E3900 Series, Intel(R) Pentium(R) Processor Silver Series may allow a privileged user to potentially enable denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2023
This vulnerability resides in the silicon reference firmware of several Intel processors including the Pentium J and N series, Celeron J and N series, Atom A series, and Atom E3900 series processors. The issue stems from insufficient key protection mechanisms within the firmware implementation, creating a potential security weakness that could be exploited by privileged users with local access. The vulnerability specifically affects the cryptographic key management processes that are fundamental to secure boot and hardware-level authentication mechanisms. According to CWE-326, this represents an inadequate protection of cryptographic keys, which is a critical weakness in security implementations that directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of system operations.
The technical flaw manifests in how the firmware handles cryptographic key storage and protection during processor initialization and operation. When privileged users with local access can potentially manipulate or extract keys from the silicon reference firmware, they may be able to disrupt normal system operations or create conditions that lead to denial of service scenarios. This vulnerability operates at the hardware level and affects the fundamental security architecture that protects against unauthorized access and system compromise. The impact is particularly concerning because it involves the core firmware that governs processor behavior and security functions, making it a critical component in the overall security posture of affected systems.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations deploying affected Intel processors, particularly in environments where local access privileges might be compromised or where systems require high availability and security. The potential denial of service impact means that systems could become unresponsive or fail to boot properly if attackers successfully exploit the key protection weakness. This vulnerability affects both enterprise and consumer devices that utilize these processor series, potentially impacting a wide range of hardware configurations from thin clients to embedded systems. The local access requirement means that exploitation typically requires physical presence or administrative privileges, but this still represents a serious security concern given the potential for system disruption and the difficulty of detecting such attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include updating firmware to versions that address the insufficient key protection mechanisms, implementing strict access controls to prevent unauthorized local access, and monitoring system behavior for signs of exploitation attempts. Organizations should prioritize firmware updates from Intel and ensure that all affected systems receive patches promptly. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as it allows for potential unauthorized access to core system functions. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as hardware security modules, secure boot configurations, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of this weakness. Given the hardware-level nature of the vulnerability, complete remediation typically requires firmware updates from Intel rather than software patches alone.