CVE-2022-35276: New Vulnerability in Intel NUC 8 Compute Elements Allows Escalation of Privilege Through Improper Access Control in BIOS Firmware

A recently discovered vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2022-35276, has been identified in some Intel(R) NUC 8 Compute Elements, enabling an attacker to potentially escalate privileges via local access. This article takes a comprehensive look at the vulnerability's exploit details, the affected hardware, mitigation measures, and reference links to the original sources.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability is related to improper access control in the BIOS firmware of some Intel(R) NUC 8 Compute Elements. These types of vulnerabilities can be exploited by allowing a user with malicious intent to bypass access controls, leading to an escalation of privilege within the targeted system. In this specific case, the exploit requires local access to the affected machine. It's important to note that the vulnerability does not grant the attacker remote control of the target system, but rather enables unauthorized access to system resources.

To better understand the vulnerability, let's consider a simple code snippet that demonstrates the exploit:

// Sample exploit code for CVE-2022-35276

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main() {
    printf("Exploiting CVE-2022-35276...\n");

    // Access the BIOS firmware address directly
    unsigned int* firmware_address = (unsigned int*)xCAFEBABE;

    // Alter firmware code to bypass access control
    *firmware_address = xDEADBEEF;

    // Escalate privileges and execute the payload
    if (escalate_privileges()) {
        execute_payload();
    } else {
        printf("Exploit failed.\n");
    }

    return ;
}

This code snippet is a hypothetical example of how an attacker might exploit the vulnerability. The exploit code accesses the BIOS firmware address directly and alters its contents to bypass access controls. If successful, the attacker can escalate their privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized actions on the target system.

Affected Hardware

This vulnerability affects Intel(R) NUC 8 Compute Elements before version CBWHL357.0096. It's essential to check your Intel NUC model and firmware version to determine if your system is vulnerable. You can find the complete list of affected products by consulting Intel's official documentation.

Mitigation Measures

Intel recommends upgrading the affected NUC 8 Compute Elements to BIOS firmware version CBWHL357.0096 or later. This update addresses the improper access control vulnerability and prevents the exploit from taking advantage of the issue.

To update your Intel NUC's BIOS firmware, you can follow Intel's step-by-step guide provided in the reference links below. It's essential to take proper precautions when updating BIOS firmware, as any mistakes or interruptions in the process can potentially brick your system.

References

1. Intel's Official Security Advisory
2. CVE-2022-35276 Vulnerability Record
3. Intel NUC BIOS Firmware Update Guide

Conclusion

CVE-2022-35276 is a serious security vulnerability that poses a risk to users with affected Intel(R) NUC 8 Compute Elements. Proper mitigation efforts, such as BIOS firmware updates, are essential in minimizing the risk of exploitation and ensuring system security. Stay informed about security updates and follow the appropriate guidelines when maintaining and updating your computing devices.

Timeline

Published on: 11/11/2022 16:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/16/2022 18:56:00 UTC