CVE-2021-0160 in NUC Pro Chassis Element AverMedia Capture Card
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2021
Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) NUC Pro Chassis Element AverMedia Capture Card drivers before version 3.0.64.143 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2021
This vulnerability resides in the Intel NUC Pro Chassis Element AverMedia Capture Card drivers where an uncontrolled search path issue exists in versions prior to 3.0.64.143. The flaw represents a classic path traversal vulnerability that allows an authenticated local user to manipulate the driver's search path during component loading. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of dynamic library loading mechanisms where the system does not adequately validate or sanitize the paths used to locate required libraries. This weakness creates an opportunity for privilege escalation as the attacker can manipulate the search order to load malicious code in place of legitimate system components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-427 Uncontrolled Search Path, which occurs when a program searches for components in a way that allows an attacker to influence the search path to point to a malicious location. The attack vector requires local authentication since the vulnerability exists in a driver component that typically requires user-level access to interact with. The privilege escalation occurs because the driver operates with elevated privileges during component loading, allowing the attacker to execute malicious code with system-level permissions. This follows the ATT&CK technique T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation by leveraging weaknesses in system components.
From an operational perspective, the impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as the vulnerable driver components operate in a trusted environment where they have extensive system access. The vulnerability affects Intel NUC Pro Chassis systems that utilize AverMedia Capture Cards, creating a potential attack surface that could be exploited by adversaries with local access. The local access requirement means that physical or network access to the system is necessary, but once achieved, the attacker can leverage this weakness to gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability exists in the driver loading mechanism where the system does not properly validate the integrity of components being loaded, creating a trust boundary violation.
The mitigation strategy centers on updating to version 3.0.64.143 or later of the affected drivers, which addresses the search path handling by implementing proper path validation and sanitization. System administrators should also implement additional controls such as enabling driver signature enforcement and restricting local user privileges where possible. The fix typically involves modifying the driver loading process to use absolute paths or implementing proper path validation before component loading occurs. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring for unusual driver loading behavior and establishing baseline system states to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in system-level components and the need for defense-in-depth approaches to protect critical system drivers from manipulation.