CVE-2020-8749 in AMT
Summary
by MITRE • 11/12/2020
Out-of-bounds read in subsystem for Intel(R) AMT versions before 11.8.80, 11.12.80, 11.22.80, 12.0.70 and 14.0.45 may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via adjacent access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-8749 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within Intel's Active Management Technology subsystem affecting multiple version ranges including 11.8.80, 11.12.80, 11.22.80, 12.0.70, and 14.0.45. This issue resides in the Intel AMT software implementation where improper bounds checking allows malicious actors to access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The flaw specifically impacts systems where Intel AMT is enabled and running, creating a potential pathway for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability requires adjacent network access for exploitation, meaning attackers must be physically present on the network segment or have network-level access to the target system, though this requirement does not significantly limit the attack surface given the prevalence of network infrastructure access in enterprise environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the Intel AMT subsystem's processing routines. When processing specific network requests or commands, the system fails to properly validate buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations, resulting in an out-of-bounds read condition. This condition can potentially expose sensitive memory contents including authentication tokens, cryptographic keys, or system credentials that may be stored in adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability manifests through the Intel AMT's web interface and remote management capabilities, where unauthenticated attackers can craft malicious requests that trigger the memory access violation. According to CWE-129, this vulnerability maps directly to improper input validation issues that allow for out-of-bounds memory access, while the ATT&CK framework categorizes this under privilege escalation techniques using system-level vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-8749 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the out-of-bounds read can potentially lead to full system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques. Enterprise environments running affected Intel AMT versions become vulnerable to attacks that could result in persistent backdoor access, data exfiltration, or complete system takeover. The vulnerability affects organizations with Intel AMT enabled systems across various industries including healthcare, finance, and government sectors where remote management capabilities are extensively utilized. Given that Intel AMT operates at a low system level and maintains persistent network connections, successful exploitation could provide attackers with continuous access to target systems even after normal operating system restarts or reboots. The risk assessment indicates that while the vulnerability requires adjacent access, this requirement does not significantly reduce the overall threat level considering that network administrators often have access to enterprise network segments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-8749 primarily focus on applying official firmware updates from Intel that address the out-of-bounds read condition through proper bounds checking implementation. Organizations should prioritize patching all affected Intel AMT versions across their enterprise infrastructure, particularly targeting systems running versions prior to the specified fixed releases. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit adjacent network access to systems running Intel AMT, though this approach provides only partial protection given that the vulnerability can be exploited through various network interfaces. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual network traffic patterns associated with Intel AMT management interfaces, as well as regular vulnerability scanning to identify unpatched systems. The implementation of network-based intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts, while disabling Intel AMT functionality when not required provides an additional defense-in-depth measure. Organizations should also consider implementing privileged access management controls and regular security audits to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.