CVE-2020-8740 in Intel
Summary
by MITRE • 11/12/2020
Out of bounds write in Intel BIOS platform sample code for some Intel(R) Processors may allow a privileged user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-8740 resides within Intel's BIOS platform sample code specifically designed for certain Intel processors, representing a critical security flaw that could be exploited to achieve privilege escalation. This issue manifests as an out of bounds write condition that occurs when processing certain system operations within the platform firmware, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain elevated system privileges.
The technical flaw stems from improper bounds checking within the sample code implementation that handles processor-specific initialization routines. When a privileged user executes specific system calls or firmware operations, the code fails to validate array indices or memory boundaries before writing data, allowing memory corruption that could be leveraged to overwrite critical system structures. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-787 category of out of bounds write conditions, which are particularly dangerous in firmware contexts due to their potential to affect system integrity at the lowest operational levels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks. Local access to a system with elevated privileges could enable exploitation of additional vulnerabilities or serve as a stepping stone for lateral movement within a network environment. The nature of this flaw means that any user with local access to a vulnerable system could potentially leverage it to gain root-level privileges, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where local access controls may be less stringent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-8740 should focus on immediate firmware updates from Intel, as the vulnerability exists within the platform sample code itself rather than in end-user applications. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems with the latest BIOS updates, which typically include proper bounds checking mechanisms and memory validation routines. Additionally, implementing strict access controls and monitoring for unusual system behavior could help detect exploitation attempts, though these measures are secondary to the primary requirement of firmware remediation.
The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including privilege escalation through system binary modification and execution of malicious code. Organizations should consider this as part of broader firmware security assessments, given that similar issues in firmware contexts often indicate broader security gaps in system hardening practices. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities typically requires local access, but the potential for remote exploitation through other attack vectors cannot be entirely ruled out, particularly in environments where privilege escalation opportunities are abundant.