CVE-2021-0156 in Intel
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2022
Improper input validation in the firmware for some Intel(R) Processors may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable an escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2022
This vulnerability resides in the firmware of certain Intel processors and represents a critical security flaw that could be exploited to elevate privileges from a standard user to administrative level. The issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the processor firmware, which fails to properly sanitize or verify data inputs that are processed by the system's core components. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where authenticated users have local access to the affected hardware, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks that could compromise the entire system.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the processor's firmware handling of specific input parameters that should be rigorously validated before execution. When an authenticated user provides malformed or unexpected input data to the firmware, the system fails to properly validate these inputs, potentially allowing malicious code or commands to be executed with elevated privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation" and represents a classic example of how firmware-level security weaknesses can create persistent attack vectors that are difficult to detect and remediate. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it operates at the processor level, meaning that even if the operating system's security measures are bypassed, the underlying hardware flaw remains exploitable.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on affected Intel processors as it allows for persistent privilege escalation attacks that could remain undetected for extended periods. Attackers with local access to systems could leverage this flaw to gain administrative control over the affected hardware, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The attack surface is limited to authenticated local access but remains particularly dangerous in environments where insider threats exist or where physical access to systems cannot be adequately controlled. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and demonstrates how low-level hardware flaws can enable sophisticated attack chains that bypass traditional security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-0156 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Intel, as these patches address the core validation issues within the processor firmware. Organizations must also implement comprehensive access controls to limit local authentication opportunities and monitor for unusual privilege escalation activities. Network segmentation and privilege separation measures can help reduce the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while continuous monitoring of system logs for anomalous behavior related to user authentication and privilege changes should be implemented. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all affected systems and establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle firmware-level privilege escalation attacks. The remediation process requires careful consideration of potential compatibility issues with firmware updates and should be coordinated with hardware vendors to ensure complete protection across all affected processor models.