CVE-2022-45112 in VROC
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2023
Improper access control in some Intel(R) VROC software before version 8.0.0.4035 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-45112 represents a critical access control flaw within Intel's Virtual RAID on CPU (VROC) software ecosystem. This software component serves as a crucial interface for managing storage arrays and RAID configurations in enterprise environments, particularly in data center and server infrastructure deployments. The vulnerability specifically affects versions of the VROC software prior to 8.0.0.4035, creating a significant security risk that could be exploited by authenticated local users to escalate their privileges within the system.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from inadequate authorization checks within the software's privilege management mechanisms. When an authenticated user accesses the VROC software, the system fails to properly validate whether the user should have elevated privileges for certain operations. This improper access control implementation allows malicious actors who have already established a legitimate login session to potentially bypass normal security boundaries and execute commands with higher privileges than initially granted. The vulnerability operates at the local system level, meaning that exploitation requires physical or network access to the target system, but does not necessitate external network exposure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the VROC software and potentially the broader system it manages. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive storage configuration data, modify RAID array settings, or potentially access underlying storage volumes that should be restricted to authorized administrators only. This could lead to data integrity compromises, unauthorized data access, or even complete system compromise if the VROC software interfaces with critical system functions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control issues in software systems, and represents a classic example of how local privilege escalation flaws can be leveraged to undermine system security.
Organizations utilizing Intel VROC software in their storage infrastructure should immediately prioritize the upgrade to version 8.0.0.4035 or later to address this vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the updated software in staging environments to ensure compatibility with existing storage configurations and management workflows. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of their VROC software installations to identify any systems running vulnerable versions. Additional mitigations may include implementing network segmentation to limit local access to systems running VROC software, enforcing strict access controls for user accounts, and monitoring system logs for unusual privilege escalation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and software components in enterprise storage environments, as these systems often serve as primary targets for attackers seeking persistent access to organizational data resources. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting local system access and software exploitation methods that allow attackers to gain elevated system privileges.