CVE-2020-0548 in Intel
Summary
by MITRE
Cleanup errors in some Intel(R) Processors may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0548 represents a cleanup error within Intel processors that could potentially allow authenticated users to access sensitive information through local system access. This issue stems from improper handling of certain processor cleanup operations that may leave residual data or state information accessible to unauthorized local processes. The vulnerability specifically affects Intel processors and manifests when cleanup routines fail to properly clear memory segments or processor states, creating potential information disclosure pathways.
This technical flaw operates at the processor level and relates to the improper management of processor resources during system cleanup operations. The vulnerability is classified as a local information disclosure issue, meaning that an attacker must already have authenticated access to the system to exploit it. The cleanup errors typically occur during context switching, interrupt handling, or other processor state management operations where temporary data or processor registers may not be properly cleared before being made available to subsequent processes or threads. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of information exposure issues that can lead to privilege escalation or data leakage.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-0548 is significant for systems running affected Intel processors, particularly in environments where multiple users or processes share the same hardware platform. Attackers with local authenticated access could potentially extract sensitive information that was previously processed or stored in processor caches, registers, or memory segments. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-tenant environments, cloud computing platforms, or systems handling confidential data, as it could enable unauthorized access to data that should remain isolated between different processes or users. This type of information disclosure can lead to the exposure of cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other sensitive system data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0548 should focus on both software and firmware updates provided by Intel, along with operational security measures. System administrators should ensure that all affected Intel processors receive the latest microcode updates and firmware patches from Intel. Additionally, implementing proper access controls, monitoring for unusual local system activity, and maintaining updated security monitoring tools can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which covers "Information Exposure," and may map to ATT&CK techniques such as T1005 for data from local system storage and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Organizations should also consider implementing least privilege principles and regular security assessments to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in their infrastructure.