CVE-2020-8758 in AMT
Summary
by MITRE
Improper buffer restrictions in network subsystem in provisioned Intel(R) AMT and Intel(R) ISM versions before 11.8.79, 11.12.79, 11.22.79, 12.0.68 and 14.0.39 may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via network access. On un-provisioned systems, an authenticated user may potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-8758 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the network subsystem of Intel Active Management Technology and Intel Standard Manageability components. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation and improper buffer size restrictions that occur during network protocol processing. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Intel AMT and ISM software across different release branches, specifically those preceding versions 11.8.79, 11.12.79, 11.22.79, 12.0.68, and 14.0.39. The flaw resides in the network handling mechanisms that process incoming data packets and requests, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities through crafted network inputs.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables privilege escalation through multiple attack vectors depending on the system provisioning state. In provisioned environments where Intel AMT is configured and accessible over the network, unauthenticated attackers can potentially leverage this buffer overflow to gain elevated privileges without requiring prior authentication. This represents a significant security risk as it allows remote attackers to compromise systems that are otherwise protected by network-level access controls. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level where incoming requests are processed and validated, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate memory structures through specially crafted network packets that exceed expected buffer boundaries.
For unprovisioned systems, the attack vector shifts to local privilege escalation where authenticated users with existing system access can exploit the same buffer overflow mechanism. This local exploitation scenario demonstrates the severity of the flaw as it can be leveraged by users who already have some level of system access to escalate their privileges to administrative or root-level capabilities. The operational impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as compromised systems may provide attackers with persistent access to network resources, enabling further lateral movement within enterprise environments. The vulnerability's presence in Intel's management subsystem means that affected systems could be compromised even when traditional network security controls are in place, as the attack targets the underlying network processing mechanisms rather than application-level interfaces.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation leading to memory corruption. From an adversarial perspective, the vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through exploitation of software vulnerabilities and persistence mechanisms that can be established through elevated system access. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Intel AMT and ISM are often deployed in enterprise environments where they provide out-of-band management capabilities, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking persistent access to critical infrastructure. Organizations running affected versions should prioritize immediate patching and implementation of network segmentation controls to limit exposure to this vulnerability.
The remediation strategy focuses on applying official Intel security updates that address the buffer overflow conditions in the affected software versions. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected Intel AMT and ISM implementations across their network infrastructure, particularly in servers, workstations, and IoT devices that may have these management features enabled. Additional mitigations include disabling Intel AMT and ISM services when not required, implementing network access controls to restrict management interface access, and monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to isolate management interfaces from general network traffic, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation of this vulnerability.