CVE-2022-25976 in VROC
Summary
by MITRE • 05/10/2023
Improper input validation in the Intel(R) VROC software before version 7.7.6.1003 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25976 represents a critical flaw in Intel's Virtual RAID on CPU (VROC) software ecosystem, specifically affecting versions prior to 7.7.6.1003. This issue manifests as improper input validation within the software's processing mechanisms, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by authenticated local users to induce denial of service conditions. The VROC software serves as a crucial component in enterprise storage environments, facilitating virtualized storage management across multiple physical drives and controllers, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on Intel's storage solutions. The flaw resides in the software's handling of user-provided inputs, where insufficient validation allows maliciously crafted data to bypass normal processing checks and potentially disrupt system operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization within the VROC software's command processing pipeline, which operates under the assumption that all input from authenticated users is trustworthy. This design flaw creates a pathway for attackers to submit malformed or specially crafted inputs that, when processed by the vulnerable software, can cause unexpected behavior including system hangs, process crashes, or complete service unavailability. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-20, which specifically addresses "Improper Input Validation" in software systems, where inputs are not adequately checked for validity, length, type, or other constraints before being processed. This weakness in input validation creates a direct attack surface that can be leveraged to disrupt normal system operations without requiring external network access, as the vulnerability only requires local authentication to exploit.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise storage infrastructure, particularly in data center environments where VROC software is deployed for managing large-scale storage arrays. The potential denial of service condition could result in complete unavailability of storage services, leading to extended downtime for critical applications and data access disruptions. Organizations utilizing Intel VROC software in mission-critical environments may face substantial operational consequences including lost productivity, revenue impact, and potential data accessibility issues. The localized nature of the attack means that physical access or valid credentials are required, but this still represents a significant security concern as it can be exploited by malicious insiders or compromised accounts. The vulnerability affects the software's ability to properly handle user commands and input parameters, potentially causing cascading failures that could impact multiple storage devices and controllers managed by the VROC software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-25976 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Intel, specifically upgrading to version 7.7.6.1003 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the input validation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive the updates promptly, particularly in environments where the VROC software is actively used. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit local access privileges and reduce the attack surface, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which focuses on exploiting local system permissions. Additional defensive measures include implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous input patterns or unusual command processing behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also conducting regular security assessments of storage management software components. System administrators should also consider implementing privileged access management controls and ensuring that only authorized personnel have local access to systems running VROC software, reducing the risk of exploitation through compromised legitimate accounts. The vulnerability's remediation through software updates demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches for enterprise storage solutions and highlights the need for continuous vulnerability assessment programs that can identify and address similar input validation weaknesses across the entire IT infrastructure.