CVE-2023-43487 in CST
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2024
Improper access control in some Intel(R) CST before version 2.1.10300 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-43487 represents a critical access control flaw within Intel's Client Security Toolkit (CST) software suite. This issue affects versions prior to 2.1.10300 and specifically targets the improper handling of authentication mechanisms that could be exploited by authenticated users with local system access. The Client Security Toolkit serves as a comprehensive security management solution for enterprise environments, providing centralized control over various security policies and configurations across multiple endpoints. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of user permissions and insufficient authorization checks within the software's local access control mechanisms, creating potential pathways for malicious actors who have already gained initial system access to escalate their privileges or disrupt normal operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through flawed access control logic that fails to properly enforce security boundaries between different user roles and system functions. When an authenticated user interacts with the CST software, the system should validate that the user possesses appropriate permissions for the requested operations. However, the vulnerability allows for bypassing these validation checks, potentially enabling users to access restricted functionalities or resources that should be limited to administrative or privileged accounts. This improper access control implementation creates a condition where local access can be leveraged to perform unauthorized operations that could lead to system instability or complete service disruption. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms, and represents a classic example of insufficient authorization checks in security-critical software components.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise security infrastructure that relies on Intel CST for centralized security management. Organizations utilizing affected versions of the software face potential denial of service scenarios where authenticated local users could disrupt security services, compromise system availability, or potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive security configurations. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the vulnerability could enable attackers to manipulate security policies, disable protective measures, or corrupt security databases managed by the CST platform. Attackers with local access could exploit this weakness to create persistent access points or escalate their privileges to administrative levels, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where local system access is not strictly controlled. The operational impact includes potential business disruption, security policy violations, and increased risk of broader system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-43487 center on immediate software updates to version 2.1.10300 or later, which contain the necessary access control fixes. Organizations should prioritize patch management processes to ensure all affected systems receive the security update promptly. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict access controls for local system access, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, and conducting regular security audits of the CST configuration. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit the potential impact if local access is compromised. Security teams should also review existing security policies to ensure that local access controls are properly enforced and that monitoring systems are configured to detect anomalous behavior patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1499 for endpoint denial of service, emphasizing the importance of proper access control enforcement and system availability protection. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as privileged access management solutions and enhanced logging to provide better visibility into access control violations and potential exploitation attempts.