CVE-2022-30601 in AMT
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2022
Insufficiently protected credentials for Intel(R) AMT and Intel(R) Standard Manageability may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure and escalation of privilege via network access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-30601 represents a critical security weakness in Intel's Active Management Technology and Standard Manageability implementations that affects numerous enterprise computing platforms. This flaw resides within the authentication mechanisms of Intel's remote management capabilities, which are designed to provide out-of-band system management functions for enterprise environments. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems where Intel AMT and Standard Manageability are enabled, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass authentication requirements and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient protection mechanisms surrounding the credentials used by Intel's management interfaces. When Intel AMT and Standard Manageability are configured, they establish network endpoints that should require proper authentication before granting access to system management functions. However, due to inadequate credential protection, an unauthenticated attacker can potentially exploit this weakness to access management interfaces without proper authorization. This flaw operates at the network protocol level where the authentication handshake mechanisms fail to adequately secure the initial connection establishment process, allowing for credential exposure or bypass scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-30601 extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential privilege escalation capabilities that could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to the full range of management functions available through Intel AMT, including the ability to remotely configure system settings, access system logs, perform firmware updates, or extract sensitive data from the managed systems. The severity of this vulnerability is particularly concerning because Intel AMT is often deployed in enterprise environments where it provides persistent access to critical infrastructure, making the potential impact of exploitation substantial. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1077 for use of valid accounts, as it enables unauthorized access through compromised management credentials.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-30601 should prioritize immediate implementation of network segmentation controls to isolate systems running Intel AMT and Standard Manageability from untrusted networks. Organizations should disable these management features when not actively required, as they represent persistent attack vectors that remain accessible even when the primary operating system is offline. Network administrators should implement strict firewall rules that limit access to the specific ports used by Intel AMT (typically ports 16992-16994) to only trusted management systems. Additionally, regular firmware updates from Intel should be applied to address the underlying credential protection flaws, and system administrators should conduct thorough inventory audits to identify all systems with Intel AMT enabled. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to management interfaces, as the attack surface created by this flaw can persist even when the system is not actively being managed.