CVE-2019-11097 in Management Engine Consumer Driver
Summary
by MITRE
Improper directory permissions in the installer for Intel(R) Management Engine Consumer Driver for Windows before versions 11.8.70, 11.11.70, 11.22.70, 12.0.45,13.0.10 and 14.0.10; Intel(R) TXE before versions 3.1.70 and 4.0.20 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-11097 represents a critical security flaw in Intel's management engine driver installations for Windows systems. This issue stems from improper directory permissions within the installer components of Intel Management Engine Consumer Drivers and Intel TXE firmware versions prior to the specified patches. The flaw affects multiple version ranges including 11.x, 12.x, 13.x, and 14.x series drivers, as well as TXE versions 3.1.70 and 4.0.20, creating a widespread impact across Intel's management engine ecosystem. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-732 as improper permission assignment, which directly relates to the inadequate access control mechanisms implemented during the installation process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows authenticated users to exploit weak directory permissions that grant excessive access rights to system directories containing sensitive management engine components. When the installer fails to properly configure directory permissions, it creates opportunities for privilege escalation attacks where local users can gain elevated system privileges. This occurs because the installation process does not adequately restrict access controls for critical system directories, potentially allowing unauthorized modification of management engine components. The flaw specifically impacts the installation phase where directory permissions are not properly enforced, creating persistent access vectors for malicious actors who have local system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive management engine functionalities. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can manipulate core system components that control hardware-level operations, including firmware updates, security policy enforcement, and system monitoring capabilities. This represents a significant threat to enterprise environments where Intel management engines are deployed, as it could enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors or disable security features. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that management engines operate at a low system level and often have elevated privileges, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor patches released for affected versions of Intel Management Engine Consumer Drivers and TXE firmware. System administrators must ensure all affected systems are updated to versions 11.8.70, 11.11.70, 11.22.70, 12.0.45, 13.0.10, 14.0.10, 3.1.70, and 4.0.20 as specified in the security advisories. Additionally, security monitoring should focus on detecting unauthorized access attempts to management engine directories and unusual privilege escalation activities. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit local user access to critical system components, while regular security audits should verify proper directory permissions are maintained. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local system exploits, and represents a critical component in understanding Intel's management engine security posture within enterprise environments.