CVE-2019-0132 in Unite Client
Summary
by MITRE
Data Corruption in Intel Unite(R) Client before version 3.3.176.13 may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially cause a denial of service via network access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-0132 affects Intel Unite(R) Client software versions prior to 3.3.176.13, representing a critical data corruption issue that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers over network connections. This vulnerability resides within Intel's remote collaboration and presentation software designed to enable seamless connectivity between devices and displays, making it a significant concern for enterprise environments where such systems are widely deployed. The flaw specifically impacts the client-side component of Intel Unite, which facilitates communication between endpoint devices and display systems, creating potential attack vectors through network-based exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and data handling mechanisms within the Intel Unite client application. When processing network requests or data streams from external sources, the client fails to properly validate incoming information, allowing malformed or malicious data to be processed without adequate sanitization. This weakness creates opportunities for attackers to inject corrupt data that can cause the application to behave unexpectedly, leading to system instability and potential denial of service conditions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, where network protocols are parsed and processed, making it accessible through standard network communication channels without requiring authentication credentials.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to organizations relying on Intel Unite for business presentations, collaborative meetings, and remote desktop sharing. An unauthenticated attacker could exploit this weakness to disrupt critical business operations by causing the client application to crash or become unresponsive, effectively denying legitimate users access to collaborative features. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the data corruption aspect could potentially lead to more severe consequences including system instability, application crashes, or even complete system failure depending on how the corrupted data is processed within the application's memory management systems. Organizations with extensive deployments of Intel Unite clients across multiple locations face particular risk due to the widespread nature of potential exploitation.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient input validation, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 related to network denial of service attacks. Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates to Intel Unite client software, as well as implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure. Additional protective measures include monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity, implementing intrusion detection systems, and establishing incident response procedures specifically addressing potential exploitation of this vulnerability. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary network services and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected systems within their infrastructure.