CVE-2022-26369 - Exploiting an Out-of-Bounds Read Vulnerability in Intel(R) XMM(TM) 756 Modem Software for Privilege Escalation

A recently discovered vulnerability known as CVE-2022-26369 has been reported to affect Intel(R) XMM(TM) 756 Modem Software versions before M2_756_R_01.2146.00. This security flaw allows an attacker who has privileged access to escalate their privileges by exploiting an out-of-bounds read vulnerability. This post aims to provide a detailed analysis of the vulnerability, sample code snippets, links to original references, and a guide on how to exploit the flaw using adjacent access.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability exists in some Intel(R) XMM(TM) 756 Modem software, which is widely used in various communication devices, including smartphones, IoT devices, and more. The out-of-bounds read vulnerability happens when the software attempts to access data that is outside the allocated memory region. This can lead to disclosure of sensitive memory content and can allow a privileged user to potentially exploit this issue and gain higher privileges on the targeted system.

The flaw can be exploited by an attacker with adjacent access, meaning that the attacker needs to have the ability to read and write data to the same memory region where the vulnerable software is executing.

Here's a sample code snippet that demonstrates the out-of-bounds read vulnerability

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

void vulnerable_function(char *input) {
    char buffer[128];
    int i;

    for (i = ; input[i] != '\'; ++i) {
        // Read from input, even if it's outside the buffer's bounds
        buffer[i] = input[i];
    }
}

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
    if (argc < 2) {
        printf("Usage: %s <input>\n", argv[]);
        return 1;
    }

    vulnerable_function(argv[1]);
    return ;
}

This code snippet defines a vulnerable function that reads input data into a buffer without properly checking the input length. This exposes the out-of-bounds read vulnerability, which can be exploited by a privileged user to escalate their privileges.

Original References

1. The CVE-2022-26369 vulnerability has been officially documented in the CVE database, which can be accessed here: CVE-2022-26369
2. Intel has published a security advisory related to this vulnerability, which can be found at the following link: Intel-SA-00086

Exploit Details

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to have privileged access to the targeted system and be able to read and write data within the same memory region as the vulnerable Intel(R) XMM(TM) 756 Modem Software. The attacker can then craft an input that triggers the out-of-bounds read vulnerability, allowing them to access sensitive memory content and possibly escalate their privileges.

Utilize the leaked memory content to escalate their privileges.

It is important to note that this demonstration is for educational purposes only and should not be used for malicious purposes. Please make sure to follow ethical guidelines when researching and experimenting with vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-26369 is a significant vulnerability that affects Intel(R) XMM(TM) 756 Modem Software before version M2_756_R_01.2146.00. By exploiting this out-of-bounds read vulnerability, a privileged user can potentially escalate their privileges and gain full control over the targeted system. It is strongly recommended to update the affected software to the latest version to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Timeline

Published on: 11/11/2022 16:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/16/2022 18:09:00 UTC