CVE-2021-0002 in Ethernet Controller 800
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2021
Improper conditions check in some Intel(R) Ethernet Controllers 800 series Linux drivers before version 1.4.11 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure or denial of service via local access.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-0002 affects Intel(R) Ethernet Controllers 800 series Linux drivers prior to version 1.4.11, representing a critical flaw in the network infrastructure software stack that impacts system security and stability. This issue stems from improper conditions checks within the driver implementation, creating potential attack vectors that can be exploited by authenticated local users who possess system access privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the kernel-level driver components responsible for managing network interface operations and hardware communication within Intel's 800 series Ethernet controllers.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in inadequate validation and condition checking mechanisms within the driver code, which fails to properly verify certain operational states or input parameters before proceeding with critical network operations. This flaw falls under the CWE-691 category of inadequate control flow management, where the driver does not adequately protect against unauthorized access or malformed data processing that could lead to unintended behavior. The improper conditions check creates scenarios where the driver may execute code paths that should only be accessible under specific circumstances, potentially allowing malicious users to manipulate the driver's operational flow.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes systems to both information disclosure and denial of service attacks, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where network reliability and data protection are paramount. An authenticated attacker with local access can potentially extract sensitive information from system memory or cause the network interface to become unresponsive, effectively disrupting network connectivity for the affected system. The local access requirement means that attackers must already have legitimate user credentials or system access, but this limitation does not diminish the severity of the impact, as local privilege escalation or initial compromise often provides the necessary access level.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends across all systems running affected Intel 800 series Ethernet controllers with outdated driver versions, particularly impacting server environments, network infrastructure devices, and embedded systems that rely on these network components. According to ATT&CK framework category T1068, this vulnerability represents a local privilege escalation vector that can be leveraged for persistent access. Organizations using affected systems face risks of data leakage through memory disclosure attacks, where sensitive network information or system data could be accessed through the compromised driver interface. Additionally, the denial of service component can cause network outages that impact business continuity and system availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-0002 primarily focus on immediate driver updates to version 1.4.11 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the improper conditions check issue. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected network controllers receive the updated drivers promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing least privilege access controls to limit local user access, monitoring system logs for unusual network behavior or access patterns, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected components. The remediation process should also involve verifying driver integrity through checksum validation and ensuring that all network interface drivers are running the latest stable versions to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.