CVE-2020-8707 in Server Board
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in daemon for some Intel(R) Server Boards, Server Systems and Compute Modules before version 1.59 may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via adjacent access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2020
This vulnerability resides in the daemon component of Intel server hardware platforms including specific server boards, systems, and compute modules. The buffer overflow flaw exists within the software daemon that manages various system functions and communications, representing a critical security weakness that could be exploited by attackers with physical or network proximity to the affected hardware. The vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 1.59, indicating that Intel has acknowledged and addressed this issue in their subsequent releases. The daemon in question likely handles privileged operations and system management tasks that require elevated privileges to execute properly.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the daemon processes incoming data or commands without proper bounds checking on buffer allocations. This allows an attacker with adjacent access to send specially crafted input that exceeds the allocated buffer space, causing memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability requires adjacent access, meaning the attacker must be physically present or connected to the network segment where the vulnerable system resides, which limits but does not eliminate the threat surface. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-121 which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though it could also encompass heap-based buffer overflows depending on the specific implementation details.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. An unauthenticated attacker who gains adjacent access could potentially establish persistent access to the system, manipulate system configurations, or exfiltrate sensitive data. The affected hardware platforms represent critical infrastructure components in data centers and enterprise environments, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security operations perspective. The privilege escalation capability means that even if initial access is obtained through other means, this vulnerability could be used to gain administrative control over the affected systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates to version 1.59 or later, which Intel has provided to address this specific buffer overflow condition. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit adjacent access to these critical systems, particularly in environments where physical security cannot be guaranteed. Monitoring for unusual daemon behavior or unauthorized access attempts should be enhanced, and security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their Intel server infrastructure to identify any remaining systems that may be affected. The vulnerability's requirement for adjacent access means that traditional network-based security controls like firewalls may not fully protect against this specific threat, necessitating a layered approach that includes physical security measures and endpoint protection. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation and T1543 which addresses persistence mechanisms that could be established through such vulnerabilities.