CVE-2021-0109 in SOC Driver Package for STK1A32SC
Summary
by MITRE • 02/17/2021
Insecure inherited permissions for the Intel(R) SOC driver package for STK1A32SC before version 604 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-0109 affects the Intel(R) SOC driver package for STK1A32SC devices prior to version 604, representing a critical security flaw that exploits inherited permissions within the driver installation process. This issue stems from improper access control mechanisms that fail to properly enforce security boundaries during driver deployment, creating an avenue for privilege escalation through local system access. The vulnerability specifically targets the Windows operating system environment where these drivers are installed, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where multiple users may have authenticated access to affected systems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insecure inheritance of permissions during the driver package installation process. When the Intel SOC driver package is installed on affected systems, it creates registry entries and file system objects that do not properly enforce access controls. This inheritance mechanism allows authenticated users to potentially manipulate driver components or access sensitive system resources that should be restricted to privileged processes. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-276, which addresses improper permissions and access control mechanisms, specifically focusing on inadequate access control in driver-level components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by leveraging their authenticated local access to modify driver behavior or access restricted system functions that should require administrator privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a potential pathway for persistent access and further exploitation within compromised systems. An authenticated user with local access can potentially leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, effectively bypassing standard operating system security controls. This weakness creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent backdoors, escalate their privileges to SYSTEM level access, and potentially move laterally within network environments. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in enterprise settings where users may have legitimate local access but should not possess the ability to escalate privileges through driver manipulation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques under T1068, where adversaries leverage system-level flaws to gain elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-0109 should focus on immediate patch management and access control hardening. Organizations must upgrade to Intel SOC driver package version 604 or later, which addresses the insecure permission inheritance issue through proper access control implementation. System administrators should also implement least privilege principles, ensuring that local user accounts have minimal necessary permissions and that driver installation processes are restricted to authorized personnel only. Additional mitigations include monitoring for unauthorized driver installations, implementing application whitelisting policies, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar permission inheritance issues in other system components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper access control implementation in driver-level software components and serves as a reminder that even seemingly benign driver installations can create significant security risks when access controls are improperly configured.