CVE-2022-21794 - Escalation of Privilege Exploit in Intel(R) NUC BIOS Firmware Improper Authentication

CVE-2022-21794 is a recently discovered security vulnerability affecting several Intel(R) NUC products - specifically Intel(R) NUC Boards, Intel(R) NUC Business, Intel(R) NUC Enthusiast, and Intel(R) NUC Kits running on BIOS firmware versions earlier than HN0067. This vulnerability could allow local, privileged users to escalate their privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or other malicious actions. In this long read post, we will dissect this critical vulnerability, provide code snippets, discuss available patches, and outline exploit details.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability in question resides in the BIOS firmware of certain affected Intel(R) NUC products, allowing attackers to potentially perform escalation of privilege attacks through improper authentication. The attacker needs local access and privileges to mount a targeted attack, which reduces the risk. However, once they exploit the vulnerability, they can potentially perform a variety of malicious actions ranging from unauthorized access to data exfiltration.

Code Snippet

While we strongly discourage using the code for malicious purposes, highlighting an example code snippet aids in understanding the nature of the exploit:

# This is a hypothetical example for educational purposes only
import os

def exploit():
    firmware_version = check_firmware_version()
    if firmware_version < "HN0067":
        print("Vulnerable firmware detected")
        privilege_escalation()
    else:
        print("Firmware not vulnerable")

def check_firmware_version():
    # This function retrieves the BIOS firmware version for demonstration purposes
    return "HN006"

def privilege_escalation():
    # The attacker would use a specific exploit to take advantage of the vulnerability
    print("Exploiting vulnerability...")
    # ...
    print("Privilege escalation successful")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    exploit()

It is crucial to understand the severity and potential impact of this vulnerability, but the misuse of code snippets can lead to increased cyber threats. Please use this information responsibly and for educational purposes only.

Original References

1. Intel Security Advisory: Official Intel advisory document, containing more information about the vulnerability, affected products, and mitigation steps.
2. CVE Details: Official government source providing vulnerability details, impact, and references.
3. Intel(R) NUC BIOS Firmware Update: The official Intel download center link for the latest BIOS firmware update, which mitigates the vulnerability.

Privileged user rights on the vulnerable system.

- Knowledge of how to manipulate the improper authentication vulnerability within the BIOS firmware of the affected Intel(R) NUC products.

As mentioned before, the risk of exploitation is relatively low, as local access and privileged rights are required. However, staying up to date on security patches and vulnerabilities is crucial to maintaining a secure computing environment.

Mitigation

Intel has released a BIOS firmware update that patches the vulnerability. Users of affected products should immediately update their BIOS firmware to version HN0067 or later. You can find the BIOS update on Intel's official download center here.

In conclusion, CVE-2022-21794 highlights the importance of staying up to date with security patches and being aware of vulnerabilities affecting your products. Regularly updating your firmware, software, and systems is a crucial step to take in minimizing the risk of potential cyber attacks. Stay vigilant and always prioritize your security in today's ever-evolving digital landscape.

Timeline

Published on: 11/11/2022 16:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/17/2022 15:45:00 UTC