CVE-2024-23909 in FPGA SDK for OpenCL Software Technology
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2024
Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) FPGA SDK for OpenCL(TM) software technology may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-23909 resides within Intel(R) FPGA SDK for OpenCL(TM) software technology and represents a significant security weakness that could be exploited by authenticated users with local access to elevate their privileges. This issue stems from improper handling of search paths during software execution, creating potential attack vectors that adversaries can leverage to gain higher system privileges than initially intended.
The technical flaw manifests as an uncontrolled search path condition where the software does not properly validate or sanitize the paths used to locate required libraries or executables. When an authenticated user executes certain operations within the Intel FPGA SDK environment, the system may inadvertently search through directories that have not been properly secured or validated. This behavior creates opportunities for malicious actors to place malicious code in directories that are searched before legitimate system paths, effectively enabling privilege escalation attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to systems running Intel FPGA SDK for OpenCL software, particularly in environments where multiple users have local access or where administrative privileges are compromised. The requirement for local access means that attackers must first obtain legitimate user credentials or exploit other initial access vectors before attempting to leverage this privilege escalation technique. However, the potential for privilege elevation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in scenarios where users have administrative rights or where the software is used in development environments with elevated permissions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-427 Uncontrolled Search Path, which specifically addresses the issue of applications using search paths that are not properly controlled, allowing attackers to manipulate the execution environment. This weakness can be categorized under the ATT&CK framework as privilege escalation through abuse of environment variables or path manipulation techniques. The attack surface is particularly relevant in development environments where Intel FPGA SDK is actively used for creating and testing OpenCL applications, as these systems often require elevated privileges for proper operation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper path validation and sanitization within the Intel FPGA SDK software, ensuring that all search paths are properly constrained and that the software does not automatically search through potentially compromised directories. System administrators should also consider implementing least privilege principles, limiting local access to only authorized personnel, and regularly updating the Intel FPGA SDK to the latest versions that contain security patches. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious file placement in system directories and implementing application whitelisting controls can help prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their FPGA development environments to identify and remediate similar path traversal issues that may exist in other software components.