CVE-2019-11096 in Ethernet I218 Adapter Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient memory protection for Intel(R) Ethernet I218 Adapter driver for Windows* 10 before version 24.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-11096 affects the Intel Ethernet I218 Adapter driver for Windows 10 systems prior to version 24.1, representing a critical security flaw that undermines memory protection mechanisms within the network adapter driver. This issue specifically targets the driver's handling of memory allocation and access controls, creating potential pathways for unauthorized information disclosure. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory protection policies that fail to properly isolate memory regions used by the network adapter driver from user-mode processes and potentially malicious code executing within the same security context. Attackers who successfully exploit this weakness can leverage local access privileges to gain insights into sensitive memory contents that should remain protected from unauthorized inspection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the driver's insufficient memory management practices where it fails to properly enforce memory boundaries and access controls between different memory regions. This weakness allows for potential information leakage through memory corruption or manipulation techniques that can be exploited by authenticated users with local system access. The flaw manifests in how the driver manages memory allocation for network packet processing and buffer handling, where inadequate protection mechanisms permit unauthorized access to memory areas that contain sensitive data such as network credentials, application data, or system information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the driver level, which typically runs with elevated privileges and has direct access to hardware resources, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for enterprise environments where the Intel I218 adapter is widely deployed across Windows 10 systems. The local information disclosure threat means that any authenticated user with access to the affected system can potentially extract sensitive data that might include network configuration details, user credentials, or other confidential information processed through the network adapter. This vulnerability can be exploited by malware or malicious insiders who already have local system access, potentially leading to further compromise of the system and network infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly broad given that the I218 adapter is commonly found in desktop and laptop computers, making it a frequent target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access or extract valuable information from network communications.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2019-11096 primarily focuses on updating to the patched version 24.1 or later of the Intel Ethernet I218 driver, which includes proper memory protection mechanisms and access controls. Organizations should prioritize deployment of this update across all affected systems, particularly those running Windows 10 operating systems with the vulnerable driver installed. Additional protective measures include implementing strict access controls and user privilege management to limit local system access, monitoring for unusual memory access patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of network adapter drivers and their memory management practices. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses memory corruption issues, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution and T1003 for credential access, demonstrating how insufficient memory protection can enable broader exploitation chains. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive audit logs of driver access and memory operations.