CVE-2023-22656 in Media SDK
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2024
Out-of-bounds read in Intel(R) Media SDK and some Intel(R) oneVPL software before version 23.3.5 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-22656 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within Intel Media SDK and oneVPL software components that affects versions prior to 23.3.5. This issue resides in the media processing framework that handles multimedia content encoding and decoding operations, creating a potential pathway for privilege escalation when exploited by authenticated local users. The flaw manifests during the processing of multimedia data streams where improper bounds checking allows memory access beyond allocated buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive system information or enabling malicious code execution with elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the media processing pipeline of Intel's multimedia software stack. When the affected software processes multimedia content, it fails to properly validate the size and boundaries of data structures used during encoding or decoding operations. This allows an authenticated user to craft malicious input that triggers memory access violations, potentially leading to information disclosure or code execution in the context of the running process. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Intel Media SDK and oneVPL implementations that are commonly used in media processing applications, video conferencing systems, and multimedia content management platforms across various enterprise and consumer environments.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Intel multimedia processing components, particularly in environments where local user access is possible. The privilege escalation vector requires local authentication, meaning that an attacker must already have legitimate user credentials to exploit the flaw, but once successful, the escalation could provide access to system resources that would otherwise be restricted. This vulnerability affects a wide range of software implementations that utilize Intel's media processing libraries, including video conferencing applications, content management systems, and multimedia processing platforms that form part of enterprise infrastructure. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more severe attacks including system compromise and persistent access to sensitive organizational resources.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to mitigate this vulnerability, as it represents a significant risk to system integrity and user data protection. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to Intel Media SDK and oneVPL versions 23.3.5 or later, which contain the necessary code modifications to address the out-of-bounds read conditions. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious local user activities and consider additional access controls to limit potential exploitation opportunities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1068, which addresses local privilege escalation through software exploitation. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing affected Intel multimedia libraries and ensure complete remediation across their infrastructure. The broader implications suggest that this flaw could be leveraged in targeted attacks against enterprise networks where local access might be obtained through social engineering or other means, making proactive defense measures essential for maintaining system security posture.