CVE-2023-31358 in AIM-T Manageability API
Summary
by MITRE • 05/13/2025
A DLL hijacking vulnerability in the AMD Manageability API could allow an attacker to achieve privilege escalation, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2025
The CVE-2023-31358 vulnerability represents a critical DLL hijacking flaw within the AMD Manageability API component that poses significant security risks to affected systems. This vulnerability resides in the way the AMD Manageability API handles dynamic link library loading processes, creating an exploitable condition that adversaries can leverage for privilege escalation. The flaw specifically affects systems running AMD manageability software and enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially compromising the entire system. The vulnerability stems from improper DLL search order handling within the AMD management framework, where the system attempts to load required libraries from predictable locations without adequate validation mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern that aligns with CWE-426 and CWE-747 categories, specifically addressing issues related to insecure library loading and privilege escalation through malicious code injection. Attackers can place malicious DLL files in directories that are searched before the legitimate AMD libraries, causing the system to execute attacker-controlled code when the AMD Manageability API is invoked. This technique exploits the Windows DLL search order mechanism where the system first searches the current working directory, followed by system directories, and then the PATH environment variable. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal privileges to exploit and can result in full system compromise, making it a prime target for sophisticated attack campaigns.
Operational impact assessment reveals that this vulnerability affects enterprise environments where AMD manageability features are actively deployed, including data centers, server farms, and corporate networks that utilize AMD's management software for system monitoring and remote administration. The potential for arbitrary code execution through this privilege escalation vector means that attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain complete control over affected systems, potentially leading to data breaches, lateral movement within networks, and persistent backdoor access. Organizations running vulnerable AMD manageability APIs face risks of unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, disruption of critical services, and potential compliance violations that could result in significant financial and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-31358 should focus on immediate patch deployment from AMD as the primary defense mechanism, alongside network segmentation and privilege minimization practices to limit potential attack surface. Security teams should implement strict monitoring of DLL loading activities and establish baseline behaviors for AMD manageability processes to detect anomalous library loading patterns. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1548.002 (Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Bypass User Account Control) as attackers may leverage this flaw to establish persistence and elevate privileges. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict which DLLs can be loaded by the AMD Manageability API, and conduct thorough security assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable versions of the software. Regular security awareness training for system administrators is also crucial to ensure proper handling of AMD management components and understanding of the risks associated with privilege escalation vulnerabilities.