CVE-2019-0159 in Network Adapter
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient memory protection in the Linux Administrative Tools for Intel(R) Network Adapters before version 24.3 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-0159 represents a critical flaw in the Linux Administrative Tools for Intel(R) Network Adapters, specifically affecting versions prior to 24.3. This issue stems from insufficient memory protection mechanisms within the administrative tools that manage Intel network adapters, creating a potential pathway for privilege escalation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only local authenticated access, making it exploitable by users who already have login credentials on the system. The flaw exists in the way these administrative tools handle memory operations during network adapter configuration and management processes, where proper memory boundaries and access controls are not adequately enforced.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper memory management within the administrative tools, which allows for potential buffer overflows or memory corruption scenarios. When these tools process network configuration data or perform administrative operations on Intel network adapters, they fail to implement adequate memory protection measures such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, or proper bounds checking. This insufficient memory protection creates opportunities for malicious code execution that could leverage the elevated privileges associated with administrative tools to escalate privileges from standard user level to root or administrative privileges. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" and CWE-125, which covers "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions that can lead to privilege escalation when proper memory protection mechanisms are absent.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems running affected versions of Intel's network administration tools, particularly in enterprise environments where network administrators frequently use these tools to manage network infrastructure. The local access requirement means that an attacker who has already gained user-level access to a system could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges, effectively bypassing standard user restrictions. This could enable attackers to modify network configurations, access sensitive data, or establish persistent access to network infrastructure. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it could compromise the integrity of network management operations, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate network traffic or disable security controls. Organizations using Intel network adapters in production environments face increased risk of unauthorized access and potential network compromise.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2019-0159 primarily involves upgrading to Intel(R) Network Adapters version 24.3 or later, which includes proper memory protection mechanisms and fixes for the identified vulnerability. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems and verify that the updated tools properly implement memory safety measures such as stack protection, heap validation, and proper input sanitization. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege configurations, restricting access to administrative tools, and monitoring for unusual administrative activities can help reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of memory safety in administrative tools and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," emphasizing how insufficient memory protection can be leveraged to gain elevated system privileges. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems running outdated versions of network administration tools that may be susceptible to similar memory protection flaws.