CVE-2021-0110 in Thunderbolt DCH Driver
Summary
by MITRE • 11/17/2021
Improper access control in some Intel(R) Thunderbolt(TM) Windows DCH Drivers before version 1.41.1054.0 may allow unauthenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-0110 represents a critical access control flaw within Intel Thunderbolt Windows DCH drivers, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.41.1054.0. This issue resides in the Windows Device Channel Host (DCH) driver implementation that manages Thunderbolt hardware interfaces, creating a pathway for unauthorized local system manipulation. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of access permissions during driver operations, allowing any local user to potentially exploit the system through malicious driver interactions that could result in denial of service conditions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper privilege escalation mechanisms within the driver's access control implementation. According to CWE-284, this manifests as an inadequate access control mechanism where the driver fails to properly verify user credentials or privileges before executing sensitive operations. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the Windows DCH driver framework, where Thunderbolt device management functions are exposed to local users without proper authentication checks. This creates an attack surface where malicious actors can leverage local access to manipulate driver states and potentially disrupt system operations through denial of service attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables adversaries with local access to disrupt Thunderbolt functionality and potentially compromise system stability. Attackers can exploit this weakness to initiate denial of service conditions that may prevent legitimate users from accessing Thunderbolt peripherals, including external storage devices, displays, and other connected hardware. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Thunderbolt technology is extensively used for high-speed data transfer and peripheral connectivity, potentially leading to productivity losses and operational disruptions. The local access requirement means that the threat actor must already have physical or remote access to the target system, but this lowers the barrier to exploitation compared to more complex remote attack vectors.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate driver updates to version 1.41.1054.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as recommended by the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all Thunderbolt-enabled systems receive the necessary updates. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for suspicious driver behavior and implement logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation, and T1499 which encompasses denial of service attacks. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit local user privileges where possible, while security monitoring should focus on driver load events and Thunderbolt device connection logs to identify anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.