CVE-2020-8681 in Graphics Drivers
Summary
by MITRE
Out of bounds write in system driver for some Intel(R) Graphics Drivers before version 15.33.50.5129 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2020
This vulnerability exists within Intel graphics drivers and represents a critical out-of-bounds write condition that can be exploited by authenticated local users to achieve privilege escalation. The flaw manifests in the system driver component of Intel graphics software, specifically affecting versions prior to 15.33.50.5129. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the driver's memory management routines, creating opportunities for malicious code to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries. Such memory corruption vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous as they can lead to arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges, potentially allowing attackers to bypass system security controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic buffer overflow scenario where the graphics driver fails to properly validate the size or bounds of data being written to memory regions. When an authenticated user executes specific operations through the graphics driver interface, the system processes input parameters without adequate boundary checks, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite critical system structures or execute malicious payloads. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-787, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds writes in software implementations. The attack vector requires local system access and authentication, making it a local privilege escalation vulnerability that aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, particularly those involving driver-level exploits.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can potentially enable attackers to establish persistent access to compromised systems. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can manipulate system memory to gain kernel-level privileges, which would allow them to bypass standard security controls and access protected resources including user credentials, sensitive data, and system configurations. The vulnerability affects systems running affected Intel graphics driver versions, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where multiple systems may be running vulnerable software versions. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to maintain long-term access to networks, escalate their access to additional systems, and potentially move laterally within compromised environments. The fact that this requires only local authentication access makes it particularly dangerous in environments where users have legitimate access to systems but could be compromised through social engineering or credential theft attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate driver updates and system patching to ensure all affected Intel graphics drivers are updated to version 15.33.50.5129 or later. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to identify and remediate vulnerable systems across their infrastructure. Additional defensive measures include implementing least privilege principles to limit local user access, monitoring system logs for suspicious activity related to graphics driver operations, and deploying endpoint protection solutions that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing system hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary graphics driver functionality, restricting local user privileges where possible, and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date system components and highlights the risks associated with outdated driver software in enterprise security environments.