CVE-2019-0144 in Ethernet 700 Series Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Unhandled exception in firmware for Intel(R) Ethernet 700 Series Controllers before version 7.0 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable a denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-0144 represents a critical flaw in the firmware implementation of Intel(R) Ethernet 700 Series Controllers that could be exploited to disrupt network operations. This issue manifests as an unhandled exception within the device firmware, specifically affecting systems running firmware versions prior to 7.0. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only local authentication access, meaning an attacker with legitimate network credentials could potentially trigger this flaw without requiring external network exposure or elevated privileges beyond what is normally granted to authenticated users.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the firmware's failure to properly handle certain error conditions during network packet processing operations. When specific network traffic patterns are processed by the affected controllers, the firmware encounters an exceptional condition that is not properly managed through exception handling routines. This unhandled exception results in the firmware crashing or entering an unstable state that ultimately leads to a denial of service condition. The flaw is classified under CWE-459 which describes "Incomplete Cleanup" in the context of software security vulnerabilities, where the system fails to properly manage resources or state transitions during error conditions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for enterprise networks that rely on Intel Ethernet 700 Series Controllers for their network infrastructure. The denial of service condition can result in complete network disruption for systems connected to affected switches or network interface cards, potentially affecting critical business operations. Network administrators may experience unexpected service interruptions that could be difficult to diagnose since the disruption occurs at the firmware level rather than at the application or operating system layer. The local access requirement means that the vulnerability could be exploited by insider threats or compromised accounts with legitimate network access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where privileged access is not adequately controlled.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the "Denial of Service" and "Resource Hijacking" categories. Attackers could leverage this flaw to perform sustained denial of service attacks against network infrastructure, potentially causing cascading failures throughout network operations. The vulnerability also represents a potential vector for privilege escalation attempts, as the unhandled exception could provide attackers with opportunities to gather information about the firmware state or potentially manipulate the system into a more vulnerable configuration. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader network security posture assessment, particularly in environments where network segmentation is not properly implemented to limit local access privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-0144 primarily focus on firmware updates to version 7.0 or later, which contain the necessary exception handling improvements to prevent the unhandled exception condition. Network administrators should implement a comprehensive patch management process that includes regular firmware updates for network infrastructure components, with particular attention to critical vulnerabilities like this one that affect core network functionality. Additional mitigations include implementing network access controls to limit local access to network devices, monitoring for unusual network behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts, and maintaining detailed inventory records of all network controllers to ensure complete remediation across the enterprise. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation strategies that limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts by reducing the attack surface available to authenticated users.