CVE-2020-0550 in Intel
Summary
by MITRE
Improper data forwarding in some data cache for some Intel(R) Processors may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure via local access. The list of affected products is provided in intel-sa-00330: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00330.html
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical data cache security flaw affecting certain Intel processor models that enables unauthorized information disclosure through improper data forwarding mechanisms. The issue stems from how the processor's data cache handles memory operations, creating potential pathways for malicious actors to extract sensitive information from system memory. The vulnerability specifically impacts processors that utilize Intel's data cache architecture, where data forwarding between cache levels occurs without proper validation of data integrity and access permissions.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the processor's cache coherency protocols failing to properly validate forwarded data streams between different cache levels or memory subsystems. When authenticated users execute specific memory operations, the cache mechanism may inadvertently forward corrupted or unauthorized data to requesting components, potentially exposing sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, passwords, or other confidential data stored in memory. This weakness operates at the hardware level within the processor's cache management system, making it particularly challenging to detect and mitigate through traditional software-based security measures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for systems running affected Intel processors since authenticated access is required to exploit the flaw, meaning that attackers must first establish legitimate user credentials or gain local system access. However, once exploited, the vulnerability could enable information disclosure that affects system confidentiality and potentially leads to privilege escalation or further system compromise. The impact extends across various computing environments including servers, workstations, and mobile devices that rely on Intel processor architectures, particularly affecting enterprise systems where sensitive data processing occurs.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve implementing microcode updates provided by Intel to address the cache forwarding behavior, alongside system hardening measures such as enabling memory protection features and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems and implementing additional security controls including memory isolation techniques and access monitoring. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation through hardware-level vulnerabilities. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and enhanced monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain compliance with security standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 frameworks.