CVE-2022-34152 in NUC Board
Summary
by MITRE • 11/11/2022
Improper input validation in BIOS firmware for some Intel(R) NUC Boards, Intel(R) NUC Kits before version TY0070 may allow a privileged user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-34152 represents a critical flaw in the BIOS firmware of certain Intel NUC boards and kits, specifically those prior to version TY0070. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the firmware layer, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors with local access privileges. The affected devices include various Intel NUC boards and kits that incorporate the problematic firmware implementation, making them susceptible to unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. The vulnerability exists at the firmware level, which means it operates below the operating system layer and can potentially bypass traditional security controls that rely on higher-level software protections.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient validation of input parameters within the BIOS firmware code. When firmware components receive data from local sources or user inputs, they fail to properly sanitize or validate this information before processing it. This weakness creates an environment where malicious inputs could be interpreted as legitimate commands, potentially allowing an attacker with local access to manipulate firmware behavior. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where privileged users can interact with the firmware interface, enabling them to exploit the validation gap to escalate their privileges. This flaw aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how firmware-level security deficiencies can create persistent attack surfaces.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to affected Intel NUC systems, particularly in enterprise and industrial environments where these devices may serve critical functions. The local access requirement means that an attacker must already have physical or administrative access to the device to exploit the vulnerability, but once exploited, the privilege escalation could allow for complete system compromise. The firmware-level nature of the vulnerability means that traditional operating system-based security measures may be ineffective, as the attack occurs below the OS layer. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for environments where physical security controls may be insufficient or where devices are deployed in unattended locations.
Security professionals should prioritize updating affected Intel NUC systems to firmware version TY0070 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation issues. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive inventory management to identify all affected devices within the organization and establish a systematic update process. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as firmware integrity monitoring and access restriction measures to reduce the attack surface. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and firmware manipulation, specifically leveraging the T1068 privilege escalation technique through firmware-based attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates how supply chain security considerations become critical when firmware components lack proper input validation, as these low-level components form the foundation upon which all higher-level security measures depend.