CVE-2019-0169 in CSME
Summary
by MITRE
Heap overflow in subsystem in Intel(R) CSME before versions 11.8.70, 11.11.70, 11.22.70, 12.0.45; Intel(R) TXE before versions 3.1.70 and 4.0.20 may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privileges, information disclosure or denial of service via adjacent access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-0169 represents a critical heap overflow condition within Intel's Converged Security and Management Engine subsystems, affecting multiple generations of Intel's embedded security solutions. This flaw exists in the firmware components that operate independently of the main operating system, specifically impacting Intel's Client Security Management Engine versions prior to 11.8.70, 11.11.70, 11.22.70, and 12.0.45, as well as Intel's Trusted Execution Engine versions before 3.1.70 and 4.0.20. The vulnerability resides in the memory management routines of these subsystems, where improper bounds checking allows malicious actors to manipulate heap memory structures through carefully crafted inputs. The heap overflow condition occurs when the subsystem processes incoming data without adequate validation of buffer sizes, creating opportunities for memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires adjacent network access, meaning an attacker must be physically present on the network segment or have access to the same physical network infrastructure as the target device. This adjacency requirement significantly reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the threat entirely, particularly in environments where network segmentation is insufficient or where attackers can achieve physical proximity to target systems. The vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation'. The heap overflow can be leveraged to achieve multiple malicious objectives including privilege escalation to kernel-level access, information disclosure of sensitive data stored within the secure subsystem, or denial of service conditions that can render the device inoperable. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise as these subsystems often control critical security functions including hardware encryption, secure boot processes, and system firmware updates.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise security infrastructure since Intel CSME and TXE components are embedded in numerous business and consumer devices across various hardware platforms. The affected subsystems typically operate at a lower privilege level than the main operating system, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous as it can bypass traditional operating system security controls and access hardware-level functions. The privilege escalation capability means that an attacker could potentially gain root access to the device's secure environment, enabling them to modify firmware, extract encryption keys, or manipulate security policies. The information disclosure aspect could expose sensitive cryptographic material, device identifiers, or security configurations that would otherwise remain protected. Organizations running affected systems face potential compromise of their entire security posture since these subsystems often control hardware-level security features that protect against various attack vectors. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Intel-based systems including laptops, desktops, servers, and embedded devices, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where these components are prevalent. The exploitation of this vulnerability could also enable attackers to create persistent backdoors within the secure subsystem, making detection and remediation significantly more challenging.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-0169 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Intel, as the vendor has released patches addressing the heap overflow condition in the affected versions. System administrators should implement network segmentation to limit adjacent access to devices running affected subsystems, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around the communication ports used by CSME and TXE components, can help detect compromise. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary secure subsystem functionality when possible, reducing the potential attack surface. The implementation of hardware-based security features such as Intel's vPro technology with proper configuration can provide additional protection layers. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all devices running affected firmware versions and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk assessment. Regular security audits of embedded systems and firmware components should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from going undetected. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware across all system components, as these secure subsystems often operate independently of the main operating system update mechanisms. Given the nature of the vulnerability, organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically designed to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting firmware-level components.