CVE-2022-28858 in NUC Laptop Kit
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2022
Improper buffer restriction in the firmware for some Intel(R) NUC Laptop Kits before version BC0076 may allow a privileged user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2025
This vulnerability affects Intel NUC laptop kits with firmware versions prior to BC0076, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that leverages improper buffer restriction mechanisms within the system firmware. The vulnerability specifically targets the firmware layer where buffer size validation is inadequately implemented, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors with local access privileges. The flaw allows a privileged user to exploit memory management inconsistencies that could lead to unauthorized privilege elevation, potentially enabling full system compromise from a local standpoint.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and buffer boundary checking within the firmware codebase. When firmware components process user-supplied data or perform memory operations, the absence of proper buffer size enforcement creates opportunities for memory corruption attacks. This type of flaw typically manifests when the firmware fails to properly validate the length of data structures being handled, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations or manipulate control flow. The vulnerability falls under the category of buffer overflow conditions that can be exploited through local privilege escalation techniques, with the potential to bypass standard operating system security controls.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk for Intel NUC systems deployed in environments where local access cannot be strictly controlled. The attack surface is limited to systems with local access privileges, but this still encompasses scenarios where unauthorized local users might gain access to the system through various means such as physical access, legitimate user account compromise, or social engineering attacks. The privilege escalation capability could enable attackers to gain administrative rights, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of persistent backdoors.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates to version BC0076 or later, which address the buffer restriction issues through proper input validation and memory boundary enforcement. System administrators should also implement strict access controls and monitor for unauthorized local access attempts, as the vulnerability requires local privilege to exploit. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected Intel NUC systems and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, privilege escalation through local exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms and memory corruption defenses to provide additional layers of protection against potential exploitation attempts.