CVE-2020-8737 in Stratix 10 FPGA
Summary
by MITRE • 11/12/2020
Improper buffer restrictions in the Intel(R) Stratix(R) 10 FPGA firmware provided with the Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Pro software before version 20.1 may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege and/or information disclosure via physical access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-8737 represents a critical security flaw within the Intel Stratix 10 Field Programmable Gate Array firmware ecosystem. This issue affects users of Intel Quartus Prime Pro software versions prior to 20.1, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gain elevated privileges and access sensitive information. The vulnerability specifically stems from inadequate buffer management within the firmware components that govern FPGA operations, creating potential pathways for malicious actors to manipulate system behavior through physical access vectors.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper buffer restrictions that fail to adequately validate input data lengths and memory boundaries during firmware operations. When firmware components process data streams or configuration parameters, insufficient bounds checking allows for buffer overflow conditions that can be leveraged by attackers. This flaw operates at the firmware level where traditional software security controls may not be fully effective, making the attack surface particularly concerning for embedded systems and hardware security implementations. The vulnerability manifests when an unauthenticated user with physical access to affected systems can manipulate firmware memory structures, potentially leading to privilege escalation and unauthorized data access.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-8737 extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized privilege elevation. Attackers with physical access can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code within the firmware environment, potentially gaining root-level access to the FPGA configuration and associated system resources. This capability enables adversaries to modify critical system parameters, extract sensitive cryptographic keys, or establish persistent backdoors within the hardware infrastructure. The implications are particularly severe in industrial control systems, network infrastructure, or security-critical applications where FPGA-based hardware serves as a fundamental component of the security architecture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates to Intel Quartus Prime Pro version 20.1 or later, which contain the necessary firmware fixes and buffer validation improvements. System administrators should implement physical security controls to limit unauthorized access to affected hardware, including secure facility access controls and asset tracking mechanisms. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected Stratix 10 FPGA deployments and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-122 categories related to buffer overflow conditions and improper input validation, while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access through hardware-level exploitation methods. Regular firmware update procedures and hardware security assessments should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future firmware releases.