CVE-2021-0012 in Graphics Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2021
Use after free in some Intel(R) Graphics Driver before version 27.20.100.8336, 15.45.33.5164, and 15.40.47.5166 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in Intel graphics drivers that affects multiple driver versions across different product lines. The flaw occurs when the graphics driver fails to properly validate memory references after objects have been freed, creating opportunities for malicious code execution or system instability. The vulnerability specifically impacts Intel graphics drivers before versions 27.20.100.8336, 15.45.33.5164, and 15.40.47.5166, indicating a widespread issue affecting various graphics hardware generations. The use-after-free pattern is classified under CWE-416 as a memory management error where program code continues to reference memory that has already been freed, potentially leading to undefined behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows authenticated users with local access to potentially trigger denial of service conditions within the graphics subsystem. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, though in this case the attack vector is local rather than network-based. The vulnerability could enable an attacker to crash graphics services, cause system instability, or potentially escalate privileges through memory corruption. The authenticated requirement suggests that a user must already have local login access to exploit this issue, but the privilege escalation potential makes it particularly concerning in multi-user environments.
The technical implementation involves memory management flaws within the graphics driver's object handling mechanisms where freed memory structures are still being referenced by subsequent operations. This typically occurs when the driver's memory management code fails to properly invalidate pointers or reset object states after deallocation. The vulnerability could be exploited through malicious graphics rendering operations or by crafting specific driver API calls that trigger the memory corruption scenario. System administrators should note that this vulnerability affects not only desktop systems but also servers and workstations that rely on Intel graphics capabilities for display functions.
Mitigation strategies include immediate deployment of Intel's security updates and patches for the affected driver versions, which typically address the memory management issues through proper pointer invalidation and object state validation. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as restricting local user access where possible, monitoring for unusual graphics driver behavior, and ensuring regular patch management processes are in place. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices in graphics drivers and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of device drivers. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while system monitoring should focus on detecting abnormal graphics processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.