CVE-2019-0171 in Quartus
Summary
by MITRE
Improper directory permissions in the installer for Intel(R) Quartus(R) software may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-0171 affects Intel(R) Quartus(R) software installations and represents a critical directory permission flaw that could enable privilege escalation for authenticated users with local access. This issue stems from improper file system permissions configured during the software installation process, creating potential security weaknesses that adversaries could exploit to gain elevated system privileges. The vulnerability specifically impacts the installer component of the Quartus software suite, which is widely used for FPGA design and development in embedded systems and digital circuit design applications.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper configuration of directory permissions within the Intel Quartus installation directory structure. When the software installer creates various directories and files during the installation process, it fails to properly set restrictive access controls and ownership permissions. This misconfiguration allows authenticated users who possess local access to the system to potentially manipulate or modify files within these directories that should remain protected. The vulnerability operates under the principle that insufficient access control mechanisms in software installations create attack surfaces where local users can escalate their privileges through manipulation of installed components.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations that rely on Intel Quartus software for critical design and development work. The privilege escalation capability could enable an attacker with local access to execute malicious code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire development environment. This is particularly concerning in industrial control systems and embedded development contexts where Quartus software is commonly deployed, as these environments often handle sensitive intellectual property and critical system components. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable broader system compromise through the exploitation of other adjacent vulnerabilities.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-732 - Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resources, which specifically addresses improper permissions on critical system resources. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as it provides a pathway for local users to escalate their privileges through software installation flaws. Organizations utilizing Intel Quartus software should implement immediate mitigations including proper directory permission hardening, regular security assessments of installed software components, and monitoring for unauthorized modifications to installation directories. The recommended approach involves verifying and correcting directory permissions post-installation, implementing least privilege access controls, and ensuring that software updates and patches are applied promptly to address the underlying permission configuration issues.