CVE-2022-31477 in NUC
Summary
by MITRE • 05/10/2023
Improper initialization for some Intel(R) NUC BIOS firmware may allow a privileged user to potentially enable information disclosure via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-31477 affects Intel NUC BIOS firmware and represents a critical security flaw related to improper initialization of system components. This issue specifically impacts the firmware initialization process during system boot, where certain security mechanisms fail to establish proper protective states. The vulnerability arises from insufficient initialization of memory management units and security features within the BIOS, creating potential attack vectors for privileged users who possess local access to the affected systems. The flaw essentially allows for a breakdown in the normal security posture that should be established during the boot process, potentially exposing sensitive system information to unauthorized local access.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate initialization sequences within the BIOS firmware code that govern how security features are configured and enabled during system startup. When the BIOS fails to properly initialize certain memory protection mechanisms or security registers, it creates a window where information disclosure can occur. This improper initialization typically affects the system's ability to maintain proper memory isolation and access controls, particularly in the early boot stages where the firmware should establish secure operational states. The vulnerability specifically targets the firmware level where critical system security parameters should be set but are instead left in potentially insecure configurations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables a privileged user with local access to potentially extract sensitive information from the system memory or firmware components. The information disclosure could include system configuration details, memory contents, or other sensitive data that should remain protected during normal system operation. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Intel NUC devices may serve as critical infrastructure components, as it could allow for the extraction of confidential data or system intelligence that could be leveraged in subsequent attacks. The local access requirement means that while the attack vector is limited to users who already have physical or administrative access to the system, the potential for information leakage remains significant.
Security mitigations for CVE-2022-31477 should prioritize firmware updates from Intel that address the specific initialization flaws in the BIOS code. System administrators should implement immediate patch management procedures to deploy the latest BIOS firmware versions that correct the improper initialization behaviors. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual access patterns or potential exploitation attempts related to firmware access. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-665 improper initialization and may relate to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and information gathering through system firmware manipulation. Organizations should also review their access controls and ensure that only authorized personnel have local access to these systems, as the vulnerability specifically requires privileged local access to exploit. Network segmentation and access control measures can help reduce the potential impact of this vulnerability by limiting the number of systems that could be compromised through local access routes.