CVE-2021-33058 in Network Adapter
Summary
by MITRE • 11/17/2021
Improper access control in the installer Intel(R)Administrative Tools for Intel(R) Network Adaptersfor Windowsbefore version 1.4.0.21 may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-33058 represents a critical access control flaw within the Intel Administrative Tools installer for Windows systems. This issue affects versions prior to 1.4.0.21 and stems from inadequate permission validation during the installation process. The flaw allows unauthenticated local users to potentially escalate their privileges, creating a significant security risk for systems running affected software. The vulnerability specifically impacts the installer component of Intel's network adapter administrative tools, which are commonly deployed in enterprise environments where network device management is critical. Such installations often occur with elevated privileges, making the access control failure particularly dangerous as it could be exploited by malicious actors with physical or local system access.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of access control mechanisms within the installer executable. When the installer runs, it fails to properly validate user credentials or system permissions before executing privilege escalation operations. This flaw typically manifests when the installer process does not adequately check whether the executing user possesses sufficient privileges to perform administrative actions. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation. The installer process likely operates with elevated privileges during installation but does not properly validate the identity of the user initiating the process, creating an opportunity for exploitation. This type of flaw often occurs when developers assume that installation processes will only be executed by authorized administrators without implementing proper authentication checks.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-33058 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical network infrastructure management functions. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could allow an attacker with local access to install malicious software, modify network configurations, or establish persistent access points through the administrative tools. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where the installer is run with administrator privileges or where system administrators regularly execute the installer without proper security context. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege by allowing unauthorized users to perform actions that should require explicit authentication and authorization. The potential for lateral movement within a network increases significantly as attackers can use the elevated privileges to access other systems or network resources that rely on the same administrative tools.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-33058 should prioritize immediate software updates to version 1.4.0.21 or later, which contains the necessary access control patches. System administrators should implement strict access controls and monitor installation activities for unauthorized execution of administrative tools. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that only authorized personnel can execute the installer, and that installation processes are run with minimal required privileges. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual installation activities or privilege escalation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar access control flaws in other administrative tools and system components. The remediation process should include verifying that the updated installer properly validates user credentials and implements appropriate access control checks before executing privileged operations, thereby preventing unauthorized privilege escalation scenarios.