CVE-2023-38655 in AMT
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2024
Improper buffer restrictions in firmware for some Intel(R) AMT and Intel(R) Standard Manageability may allow a privileged user to potentially enable denial of service via network access.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-38655 represents a critical buffer management flaw within the firmware implementations of Intel Active Management Technology and Intel Standard Manageability components. This issue stems from inadequate validation of buffer boundaries during firmware processing operations, creating potential pathways for malicious exploitation. The vulnerability specifically affects systems utilizing Intel AMT and Intel Standard Manageability features, which are integral components in enterprise computing environments for remote system management and monitoring. These technologies enable administrators to perform out-of-band management functions including system diagnostics, firmware updates, and remote troubleshooting without requiring physical access to the device.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper buffer restriction mechanisms within the firmware code responsible for handling network communication protocols. When processing incoming network requests or managing system data flows, the firmware fails to adequately validate input boundaries, potentially allowing an attacker to overflow or underflow allocated memory buffers. This flaw typically manifests when privileged users exploit the network accessible interfaces of these management systems to send malformed data packets or commands that exceed expected buffer sizes. The vulnerability operates at the firmware level, making it particularly dangerous as it can persist across operating system reboots and is often invisible to traditional security monitoring tools. The buffer overflow conditions can result in unpredictable system behavior including application crashes, system instability, and complete service disruption.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to enterprise environments that rely heavily on remote management capabilities. Organizations utilizing Intel AMT and Intel Standard Manageability may face potential denial of service attacks that could render critical management interfaces unavailable, effectively disabling remote administrative functions. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the vulnerability could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks if combined with other exploitation techniques. Attackers with network access and privileged credentials could leverage this weakness to systematically disrupt management services, creating operational downtime that affects system availability and business continuity. The vulnerability's network accessibility means that exploitation could occur from external network positions, making it particularly concerning for organizations with exposed management interfaces. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.1 for network denial of service attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-38655 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Intel, as these patches address the underlying buffer management issues within the affected components. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to management interfaces, restricting access to trusted administrative networks only. Additional protective measures include monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, implementing strict access controls for management interfaces, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments of management system configurations. Security teams should also consider disabling unused management features and ensuring that network-based access controls are properly configured to prevent unauthorized access to vulnerable interfaces. The remediation process requires careful planning due to the critical nature of these management systems, as firmware updates may require system downtime and could potentially introduce compatibility issues with existing management workflows. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address potential exploitation of this vulnerability, including rapid response protocols for managing denial of service scenarios that could impact critical infrastructure operations.