CVE-2019-14566 in SGX SDK
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient input validation in Intel(R) SGX SDK multiple Linux and Windows versions 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-2019-14566 resides within the Intel Software Guard Extensions SDK implementation across multiple operating systems including Linux and Windows platforms. This security flaw stems from inadequate validation of input parameters within the SDK's core components, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by authenticated local users. The affected Intel SGX SDK versions demonstrate a critical weakness in their input sanitization mechanisms, particularly when processing user-supplied data within the secure enclaves framework.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability manifests as insufficient parameter validation within the SDK's enclave management functions and memory allocation routines. When an authenticated user executes malicious input through the SDK interfaces, the system fails to properly validate the legitimacy and safety of the provided parameters before processing them within the SGX enclave environment. This lack of proper input validation creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the SDK's behavior through crafted inputs that could potentially bypass security controls. The vulnerability specifically impacts the SDK's handling of enclave creation, memory management, and data transfer operations where insufficient checks are performed on user-provided parameters.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems relying on Intel SGX technology for secure computation. An authenticated local attacker could exploit this weakness to achieve information disclosure by accessing sensitive data that should remain protected within the enclave boundaries. The vulnerability also enables privilege escalation attacks where malicious users could potentially elevate their system privileges beyond normal security boundaries. Additionally, the flaw could be leveraged to create denial of service conditions that would disrupt legitimate enclave operations and compromise system availability. The local access requirement means that attackers must already have valid user credentials, but this limitation does not significantly reduce the overall threat level given that local system compromise often leads to broader security breaches.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary recommendation involves applying the latest security patches and updates provided by Intel for the affected SDK versions, which typically include enhanced input validation routines and parameter sanitization mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging controls to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The mitigation approach aligns with established security practices outlined in the CWE database under categories related to input validation failures and improper privilege handling. Organizations should also review their current access control policies and ensure that only authorized personnel have local system access to minimize potential exploitation surfaces. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege implementations can further reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of robust input validation in security-critical software components, particularly those handling sensitive data within trusted execution environments. The flaw underscores the necessity of comprehensive security testing and code review processes for SDKs and development tools that interface with hardware security features. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, highlighting how input validation weaknesses can be exploited to bypass security controls. Organizations implementing Intel SGX technology must maintain vigilant monitoring of security advisories and ensure timely deployment of patches to protect against such vulnerabilities that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of their secure computing environments.