CVE-2022-41982 in VTune Profiler Software
Summary
by MITRE • 05/10/2023
Uncontrolled search path element in the Intel(R) VTune(TM) Profiler software before version 2023.0 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41982 affects the Intel VTune Profiler software, a performance analysis tool widely used by developers and system administrators for optimizing application performance and identifying bottlenecks in software systems. This issue represents a classic uncontrolled search path element flaw that can be exploited by authenticated users with local access to potentially escalate their privileges within the system. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to 2023.0 of the VTune Profiler, indicating that Intel recognized and addressed this security weakness in their subsequent releases.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of search paths during software execution, specifically within the VTune Profiler's component loading mechanisms. When the profiler attempts to locate and load required libraries or modules, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the search path elements, allowing an attacker to manipulate the library loading process. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-427, which specifically addresses Uncontrolled Search Path Element, and falls under the broader category of path traversal and library injection attacks. The flaw enables an attacker to inject malicious code or libraries into the execution flow by placing them in directories that are searched before legitimate system directories, effectively creating a privilege escalation vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations that rely on Intel VTune Profiler for performance monitoring and optimization tasks. An authenticated local user who can access the system where VTune is installed can potentially leverage this weakness to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative or root access. This scenario poses a serious risk to system integrity, especially in environments where multiple users share the same system or where the profiler is installed with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only local access and authentication, making it relatively easy to exploit in environments where users have legitimate access to the system but should not possess elevated privileges. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Local Privilege Escalation' through the manipulation of system components and library loading processes.
Organizations should immediately update their Intel VTune Profiler installations to version 2023.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including restricting local access to systems running VTune Profiler, monitoring for unusual library loading patterns, and conducting regular security audits of installed software components. The mitigation strategy should include ensuring that all software updates are applied promptly, maintaining strict access controls, and implementing proper privilege separation to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms that can detect and prevent unauthorized library loading operations, which would provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities in other software components.