CVE-2023-39432 in Ethernet Tools and Driver Install Software
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2024
Improper access control element in some Intel(R) Ethernet tools and driver install software, before versions 28.2, may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2024
This vulnerability resides within Intel's Ethernet tools and driver installation software ecosystem, specifically affecting versions prior to 28.2. The issue manifests as an improper access control implementation that creates a security flaw allowing authenticated users to potentially escalate their privileges through local access channels. The vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the software's privilege management mechanisms, where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions that should prevent unauthorized privilege escalation. This type of flaw typically occurs when the software does not adequately validate user permissions or when access control checks are bypassed during installation or runtime operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate privilege validation within the installation and configuration processes of Intel's Ethernet tools. When an authenticated user interacts with the software, the system should enforce strict access controls to prevent unauthorized elevation of privileges. However, in affected versions, the access control elements fail to properly validate whether the authenticated user possesses sufficient privileges to perform certain operations. This weakness allows a malicious user who has already gained authentication access to exploit the flawed privilege management to escalate their privileges from standard user level to administrative or system level access. The vulnerability operates at the local access level, meaning it requires the user to already have some level of authentication within the system, but does not require network access or additional attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized control over network configuration settings and potentially compromise the entire system. An attacker with local access could leverage this vulnerability to modify critical network settings, install malicious software, or access sensitive system resources that should be restricted to authorized administrators only. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where Intel Ethernet tools are commonly deployed, as these tools often have deep integration with system-level network configurations and driver management functions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control issues, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all system operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates to versions 28.2 or later, which contain the necessary access control fixes. System administrators should conduct thorough inventory checks to identify all affected installations and ensure timely patch deployment across all networked systems. Additionally, organizations should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual privilege escalation attempts, as this vulnerability could be exploited as part of broader attack campaigns. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting local privilege escalation methods that exploit software flaws. Security teams should also consider implementing additional access controls such as mandatory access controls and privilege monitoring systems to reduce the risk of exploitation. Regular security assessments of network infrastructure tools and drivers should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses that could be exploited by threat actors.