CVE-2020-0600 in NUC
Summary
by MITRE
Improper buffer restrictions in firmware for some Intel(R) NUC may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0600 represents a critical security flaw within the firmware of certain Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) devices. This issue stems from inadequate buffer management controls that exist within the firmware implementation, creating potential pathways for malicious exploitation. The vulnerability specifically affects Intel NUC models that utilize certain firmware versions, making them susceptible to unauthorized privilege escalation attacks. The flaw manifests when an authenticated user with local access attempts to manipulate buffer boundaries during firmware operations, potentially leading to system compromise.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of buffer size validation mechanisms within the firmware code. When firmware components process user-supplied data or perform memory operations, they fail to adequately validate buffer boundaries, allowing for potential buffer overflow conditions. This weakness enables an attacker with local authentication credentials to craft malicious inputs that can manipulate memory regions beyond their intended boundaries. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The firmware's failure to implement proper input sanitization and memory boundary validation creates exploitable conditions that can be leveraged for privilege escalation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to Intel NUC deployments as it requires only local authentication to exploit, making it accessible to anyone with legitimate user credentials. The potential impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain administrative control over the device, modify firmware components, or establish persistent access points. The local access requirement means that the vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where physical security controls are insufficient or where users may have legitimate access to systems but could be compromised. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to install backdoors, modify system configurations, or escalate their privileges to full administrative control over the affected NUC devices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0600 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Intel, as these patches typically include enhanced buffer validation mechanisms and memory protection features. Organizations should implement strict access controls and monitor for unauthorized local access attempts on affected systems. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. Additionally, regular firmware audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other firmware components. The remediation process should follow established security protocols including impact assessment, patch deployment scheduling, and post-remediation verification to ensure complete vulnerability resolution. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes privilege escalation through local exploitation, and T1547 which covers registry run keys and startup folder modifications that could result from successful privilege escalation.