CVE-2020-12366 in Graphics Drivers
Summary
by MITRE • 02/17/2021
Insufficient input validation in some Intel(R) Graphics Drivers before version 27.20.100.8587 may allow a privileged user to potentially enable an escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-12366 resides within Intel(R) Graphics Drivers and represents a critical security flaw that could be exploited to elevate privileges on affected systems. This issue specifically affects versions prior to 27.20.100.8587, indicating that Intel has addressed this weakness through their driver updates. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the graphics driver software, which creates opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate system resources. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only local access to exploit, meaning that an attacker with low-privilege user access could potentially leverage this vulnerability to gain elevated system privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of privilege escalation attacks that can have severe implications for system security and data integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as the underlying weakness. This classification indicates that the graphics driver fails to properly validate or sanitize input data that it receives from local processes or users. The insufficient validation allows for potentially malicious inputs to be processed without proper security checks, leading to unintended behavior within the driver's execution environment. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a privileged user context, which means that an attacker must already have some level of access to the system, but the ultimate goal is to escalate that access to higher privileges. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Local Privilege Escalation," demonstrating how such vulnerabilities can be leveraged to move from a standard user account to a more privileged administrative level.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-12366 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a potential gateway for more sophisticated attacks within a compromised system. When a privileged user can exploit this vulnerability, they gain access to the graphics driver's kernel-level components, which may contain sensitive system information or provide access to hardware resources that are typically restricted. This access could enable attackers to manipulate graphics processing units, potentially leading to further system compromise or data exfiltration. The local access requirement means that the vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users share the same system or where social engineering attacks could be used to gain initial access. Organizations that rely heavily on Intel graphics hardware for their computing infrastructure face significant risks, as this vulnerability could be exploited to establish persistent access to critical systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-12366 primarily focus on updating the affected Intel graphics drivers to version 27.20.100.8587 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation shortcomings. System administrators should prioritize rolling out these updates across all affected endpoints, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple systems may be vulnerable. Additionally, implementing least privilege principles can help reduce the potential impact of exploitation, as attackers would need to first gain a privileged account before attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring for unusual graphics driver activity can also serve as defensive measures. Organizations should also consider conducting vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected driver versions and establish processes for regular driver updates. The remediation process should include thorough testing of driver updates to ensure compatibility with existing hardware configurations and software applications, as graphics driver updates can sometimes introduce compatibility issues that affect system stability.