CVE-2022-21225 in Data Center Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2022
Improper access control in the Intel(R) Data Center Manager software before version 4.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via adjacent access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21225 represents a critical access control flaw within Intel's Data Center Manager software ecosystem. This issue affects versions prior to 4.1 and manifests as a privilege escalation vector that can be exploited by authenticated users who have adjacent network access to the affected system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate authorization mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions during critical operations, creating potential pathways for malicious actors to elevate their privileges beyond what was initially granted.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves insufficient validation of user credentials and access rights within the software's administrative interfaces. When an authenticated user attempts to perform privileged operations, the system does not adequately verify whether the user possesses the necessary permissions to execute such actions. This weakness allows an attacker who has already gained access to the system through legitimate authentication mechanisms to bypass normal access controls and assume higher privilege levels. The vulnerability specifically impacts the software's handling of administrative functions and configuration changes that require elevated permissions, making it particularly dangerous in data center environments where multiple users may have varying levels of access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise data center security infrastructure. Organizations utilizing Intel Data Center Manager software in production environments face potential exposure to insider threats or compromised accounts that could lead to complete system takeover. The adjacent access requirement means that exploitation typically occurs within the same network segment, making physical or network proximity a prerequisite for successful attack. This characteristic limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the threat, particularly in environments where network segmentation is not properly implemented or where lateral movement techniques are employed by attackers. The privilege escalation capability directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and principle of least privilege enforcement that are essential for maintaining secure data center operations.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential data compromise and system integrity violations. Once an attacker achieves elevated privileges, they can modify critical system configurations, access sensitive operational data, and potentially disrupt data center services. This aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques, where attackers leverage software vulnerabilities to gain higher-level system access. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader security posture assessments and may need to implement additional monitoring and access control measures to detect unauthorized privilege elevation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust patch management processes to prevent exploitation of known security flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-21225 should prioritize immediate software updates to version 4.1 or later, which contain the necessary access control fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit adjacent access opportunities and enforce strict access controls for administrative functions. Additional defensive measures include implementing monitoring for unusual privilege escalation attempts, conducting regular security assessments of data center management interfaces, and ensuring that only necessary personnel have access to administrative functions. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper access control implementation in enterprise software systems and demonstrates how seemingly minor authorization flaws can lead to significant security consequences. Security teams should also consider this vulnerability within the context of broader compliance requirements and industry standards such as those outlined in the CWE database, which categorizes this issue under improper access control weaknesses that can lead to privilege escalation exploits.