CVE-2023-35192 in GPA Framework
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2024
Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) GPA Framework software before version 2023.3 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-35192 represents a critical security flaw within Intel's Graphics Performance Analyzer GPA Framework software ecosystem. This issue manifests as an uncontrolled search path condition that affects versions prior to 2023.3, creating a significant attack surface for authenticated users who possess local access to affected systems. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of dynamic library loading mechanisms where the software fails to properly validate or restrict the paths from which it loads required components. This weakness directly aligns with CWE-427, which specifically addresses uncontrolled search path vulnerabilities that allow attackers to influence the execution flow by manipulating the library search order. The flaw enables malicious actors to potentially escalate privileges from a standard authenticated user account to a higher privilege level, effectively undermining the system's access control mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated user with local system access, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to remote exploitation vectors. However, the impact remains severe as it allows privilege escalation directly on the compromised system. Attackers can leverage this weakness by placing malicious libraries in directories that are searched before legitimate system paths, causing the GPA Framework to execute unauthorized code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically affects the software's dynamic loading behavior, where the application does not properly sanitize or validate the library search paths, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code. This weakness operates at the operating system level where the dynamic linker or loader processes library requests, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass standard security controls that protect against unauthorized code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations that utilize Intel's GPA Framework for graphics performance analysis and optimization tasks. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can enable attackers to gain persistent access to systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's presence in performance analysis tools is particularly concerning as these applications often run with elevated privileges or have access to sensitive system resources. Security teams must consider the potential for this vulnerability to be exploited as part of broader attack campaigns where initial access is gained through other means, and the privilege escalation capability provides attackers with enhanced capabilities to maintain persistence and expand their control over affected systems. The vulnerability also affects the software's integrity and trust model, as legitimate applications may be tricked into executing malicious code through the compromised library loading mechanism.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-35192 should prioritize immediate software updates to version 2023.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the uncontrolled search path vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly, particularly in environments where Intel GPA Framework is actively used for performance analysis tasks. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict library loading policies that restrict dynamic library searches to trusted directories, using application whitelisting solutions to control which executables can run on systems, and conducting regular security assessments of the software's library loading behavior. System administrators should also monitor for suspicious library loading activities and implement logging controls that can detect attempts to manipulate library search paths. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," emphasizes the need for comprehensive monitoring and detection capabilities to identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider deploying endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block malicious library injection attempts, as these tools can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation of this vulnerability.