CVE-2023-45733 in Processor
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2024
Hardware logic contains race conditions in some Intel(R) Processors may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable partial information disclosure via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-45733 represents a significant security flaw within the hardware logic of certain Intel processors, specifically manifesting as race conditions that can be exploited by authenticated users with local access privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of hardware-level security issues that can compromise system integrity and data confidentiality. The race condition occurs in the processor's logic circuits where multiple operations are executed concurrently, creating temporal windows where system state can become inconsistent or unpredictable. Such conditions are particularly dangerous because they operate at the hardware level, making them difficult to detect and mitigate through traditional software-based security measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper synchronization mechanisms within the processor's microarchitecture, particularly in how the hardware handles concurrent execution paths during specific instruction sequences. When multiple threads or processes attempt to access shared resources simultaneously, the race condition allows for unpredictable behavior where the processor may execute instructions out of order or fail to properly manage resource allocation. This flaw specifically affects certain Intel processor models and is categorized under CWE-362, which deals with race conditions in concurrent programming contexts. The vulnerability is classified as a local information disclosure issue, meaning that an attacker must already possess legitimate authentication credentials to the system to exploit it, but once accessed, they can potentially extract partial information from system memory or registers.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for systems that rely heavily on Intel processors, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple users may have authenticated access to the same hardware. The partial information disclosure could potentially expose sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or application data that is temporarily stored in processor caches or registers. Attackers could leverage this weakness to perform side-channel attacks or memory analysis techniques to reconstruct partial information that would normally remain protected. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it operates below the operating system level, making it invisible to traditional security monitoring tools and system-level protections. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, as attackers could potentially use the information disclosure to gain further access to systems or escalate privileges.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-45733 primarily involve firmware updates from Intel that address the underlying race condition in the processor's hardware logic. System administrators should prioritize applying the latest microcode updates and BIOS/firmware patches provided by Intel to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement strict access controls and monitoring to limit local authentication privileges, as the vulnerability requires authenticated access to exploit. Network segmentation and privilege separation measures can help reduce the potential impact if the vulnerability is successfully exploited. The recommended approach includes regular vulnerability assessments and continuous monitoring of system behavior for signs of unusual resource access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Given the nature of hardware-level vulnerabilities, complete remediation typically requires updating the processor firmware and potentially replacing affected hardware components, making it a critical consideration for organizations maintaining high-security standards.