CVE-2020-0507 in Graphics Drivers
Summary
by MITRE
Unquoted service path in Intel(R) Graphics Drivers before versions 15.33.49.5100, 15.36.38.5117, 15.40.44.5107, 15.45.30.5103, and 26.20.100.7212 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0507 represents a critical security flaw in Intel Graphics Drivers that stems from improper handling of service path strings during installation processes. This issue specifically affects versions of Intel Graphics Drivers prior to several key releases including 15.33.49.5100, 15.36.38.5117, 15.40.44.5107, 15.45.30.5103, and 26.20.100.7212. The flaw manifests when Windows service installation routines do not properly quote service executable paths, creating a path traversal vulnerability that can be exploited by authenticated local users to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-428, which describes the weakness of unquoted service paths in Windows environments. When service installation scripts fail to properly quote paths containing spaces or special characters, Windows treats the path as a sequence of arguments rather than a single executable location. This creates opportunities for attackers to place malicious executables at strategic locations within the path hierarchy, allowing them to intercept service execution and gain unauthorized code execution privileges. The vulnerability specifically impacts the installation and execution phases of Intel graphics services, where service paths are constructed without proper quotation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential privilege escalation and persistent malicious code execution. An authenticated local user can exploit this weakness to place malicious executables in directories that will be traversed during service startup, effectively creating a foothold for further compromise. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Intel graphics drivers are commonly deployed across multiple systems, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access points or disrupt critical graphics functionality. The local access requirement means that exploitation cannot occur remotely, but the authenticated nature of the attack significantly broadens the threat surface within compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0507 should prioritize immediate driver version updates to the patched releases mentioned in the vulnerability description. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all Intel graphics drivers are updated to versions that properly quote service paths during installation processes. System administrators should also conduct thorough inventory assessments to identify affected systems and implement additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized modifications to service paths or executable locations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices for service installation routines and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through service manipulation. Additionally, implementing least privilege principles and regular security audits of Windows service configurations can help prevent exploitation of similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other software components.