CVE-2019-14565 in SGX SDK
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient initialization in Intel(R) SGX SDK Windows versions 2.4.100.51291 and earlier, and Linux versions 2.6.100.51363 and earlier, may allow an authenticated user to enable information disclosure, escalation of privilege or denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14565 affects Intel Software Guard Extensions SDK implementations across both Windows and Linux platforms, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2.4.100.51291 for Windows and 2.6.100.51363 for Linux. This issue stems from inadequate initialization processes within the SDK that govern how Intel SGX enclaves are configured and managed. The flaw represents a critical weakness in the security architecture of Intel's trusted execution environment implementation, where proper initialization of enclave memory and security parameters fails to occur correctly during the enclave creation process. Such insufficient initialization creates predictable security states that can be exploited by malicious actors with local access to the system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of memory initialization within Intel SGX enclaves, where sensitive data may persist in memory locations that should have been cleared or properly secured during enclave initialization. This flaw allows an authenticated local user to potentially access memory contents that should remain protected within the enclave environment, effectively bypassing the fundamental security guarantees that Intel SGX is designed to provide. The vulnerability manifests through the failure to properly initialize memory regions that contain sensitive cryptographic keys, enclave metadata, or application data that should remain isolated from untrusted processes. This improper initialization creates information disclosure channels that can reveal confidential information stored within SGX enclaves.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to escalate privileges by exploiting the insecure initialization of enclave components, potentially gaining access to elevated system privileges that should remain restricted to trusted processes. The information disclosure aspect allows attackers to extract sensitive data from memory locations that were intended to be protected by the SGX security model, while the denial of service component can be leveraged to crash or destabilize enclave-based applications. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires only local authentication, making it accessible to users with legitimate system access who may have malicious intent. This vulnerability undermines the core security assumptions of Intel SGX, which relies on the principle that enclave memory remains protected from both kernel and user-space processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-14565 require immediate updates to the affected Intel SGX SDK versions to address the initialization flaws in both Windows and Linux implementations. Organizations should prioritize patching their systems to ensure they are running versions that contain proper memory initialization routines for SGX enclaves. System administrators should also implement monitoring for unauthorized local access attempts and consider additional security controls around enclave-based applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-665 Improper Initialization and CWE-310 Cryptographic Issues, representing a failure in proper cryptographic initialization and memory management. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1005 Data from Local System, as it enables both privilege escalation and information disclosure through local access. Organizations should also consider implementing additional runtime protections and memory monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all enclave-based applications are updated to use secure initialization routines that properly clear memory and establish secure enclave boundaries.