CVE-2022-25864 in oneMKL
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2023
Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) oneMKL software before version 2022.0 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25864 represents a critical security flaw within Intel's oneMKL software ecosystem, specifically affecting versions prior to 2022.0. This issue falls under the category of uncontrolled search path exploitation, a common weakness that can be leveraged by malicious actors to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability requires local authentication to exploit, making it particularly concerning for environments where privileged access is granted to multiple users or where user accounts may be compromised. The affected Intel oneMKL software is widely used for mathematical and scientific computing applications, making this vulnerability impactful across various enterprise and research computing environments. The flaw stems from improper handling of library search paths during software execution, which can lead to arbitrary code execution when the system loads maliciously crafted libraries from unexpected locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the software's failure to properly validate or restrict the paths from which shared libraries are loaded during execution. When a user authenticates to the system and runs oneMKL applications, the software searches through a predefined set of directories to locate required libraries. The uncontrolled search path allows an attacker with local access to manipulate this search order by placing malicious libraries in directories that are searched before legitimate system libraries. This behavior can be exploited through directory traversal techniques or by leveraging symbolic links to redirect library loading to attacker-controlled locations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered by any authenticated user, potentially allowing privilege escalation attacks that could result in full system compromise. This flaw aligns with CWE-427, which specifically addresses uncontrolled search path vulnerabilities in software systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-25864 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors within compromised environments. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the authenticated user, which may include elevated system access depending on how the software is configured. In enterprise settings where oneMKL is used for high-performance computing tasks, this could lead to data exfiltration, system disruption, or further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in research environments or high-performance computing clusters where multiple users may have legitimate access to the system but could be exploited to gain unauthorized privileges. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to establish persistent access or deploy additional malware payloads. This issue maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms that are commonly observed in advanced persistent threat campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-25864 should focus on immediate software updates and implementation of additional security controls. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to Intel oneMKL version 2022.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. System administrators should also implement strict library path controls and monitor for unauthorized modifications to system directories. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, using privilege separation techniques, and conducting regular security audits of system libraries and their locations. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious library loading behaviors can help detect exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing behavioral analytics to identify anomalous patterns that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications while maintaining the security benefits of proper library path validation.