CVE-2023-32544 in HotKey Services
Summary
by MITRE • 01/19/2024
Improper access control in some Intel HotKey Services for Windows 10 for Intel NUC P14E Laptop Element software installers before version 1.1.45 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-32544 represents a critical access control flaw within Intel HotKey Services for Windows 10 operating systems on Intel NUC P14E Laptop Element devices. This issue affects software installers prior to version 1.1.45 and demonstrates a significant weakness in the permission model governing system-level services. The vulnerability specifically manifests when an authenticated user attempts to manipulate system resources through local access channels, creating potential pathways for unauthorized system disruption.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate validation of user permissions within the hotkey service framework. When users authenticate to the system, the service fails to properly enforce access restrictions that should prevent modification of critical system components. This improper access control mechanism allows authenticated users to potentially manipulate the hotkey service functionality in ways that could lead to system instability. The vulnerability operates at the service level where user credentials are accepted but not properly validated against the privilege requirements for system modification operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a potential denial of service condition that can significantly affect system availability and user productivity. An authenticated user could exploit this weakness to disable or disrupt the hotkey functionality, which might render essential system controls inaccessible. The local access requirement means that attackers must first establish a valid login session, but once achieved, they can potentially cause service interruptions that affect the entire system. This vulnerability particularly impacts enterprise environments where system stability and user access controls are paramount for maintaining operational continuity.
The root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems. This classification indicates that the software fails to properly enforce access restrictions that should limit user actions based on their privileges and roles. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, where an authenticated user leverages system weaknesses to gain unauthorized control over service operations. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling activities, particularly when evaluating the security posture of embedded systems and specialized hardware configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-32544 should prioritize immediate software updates to version 1.1.45 or later, which contain the necessary access control fixes. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring of service access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit user access to system services, while regular security assessments should verify that access control mechanisms function correctly. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current firmware and software versions, particularly for specialized hardware platforms that may have limited update mechanisms or extended support cycles.