Recently, a new security vulnerability known as CVE-2022-37334 has been discovered impacting BIOS firmware for some Intel(R) NUC 11 Pro Kits and Intel(R) NUC 11 Pro Boards. This improper initialization in the firmware may allow an authenticated user to enable escalation of privilege via local access, potentially leading to severe security concerns. In this post, we will discuss the details of this vulnerability, examine a code snippet showcasing the issue, and provide links to the original references and exploit details.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability, assigned the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) identifier CVE-2022-37334, affects Intel(R) NUC 11 Pro Kits and Intel(R) NUC 11 Pro Boards with BIOS firmware versions prior to TNTGL357.0064.

The improper initialization of a crucial component in the BIOS firmware leads to a situation where, under specific conditions, an authenticated user with local access to the system can potentially escalate their privileges by exploiting this vulnerability. With escalated privileges, the attacker can gain unauthorized access to system resources, execute malicious code, or tamper with the system configuration, resulting in severe security breaches.

Code Snippet

To give you an idea of how the improper initialization of the component can occur in the BIOS firmware, consider the following example of C code:

#include <stdio.h>

void vulnerable_function() {
  int uninitialized_var;

  if (uninitialized_var == ) {
    printf("Access granted.\n");
  } else {
    printf("Access denied.\n");
  }
}

int main() {
  vulnerable_function();
  return ;
}

Here, the variable uninitialized_var is not explicitly initialized before it is checked in the if statement. Uninitialized variables can hold unpredictable values, which might lead to unexpected behavior in the code. In a real-world scenario, this simple flaw may allow an attacker to take advantage of the uninitialized variable to escalate their privileges in the system.

It is important to note that this code example is provided for illustrative purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the precise mechanisms of the CVE-2022-37334 vulnerability.

Original References

You can find the official announcement of the CVE-2022-37334 vulnerability in the following Intel Security Advisory:
- INTEL-SA-00632

Additionally, the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) provides further information on this vulnerability, including its severity, impact, and other details:
- NVD - CVE-2022-37334

Exploit Details

At the time of writing this post, there are no known public exploits available for the CVE-2022-37334 vulnerability. However, it is essential to understand that exploit development is an ongoing process. As such, system administrators and users should remain vigilant and follow best security practices, such as promptly applying firmware updates and patches, to mitigate potential security risks.

Conclusion

The CVE-2022-37334 vulnerability highlights the importance of regular firmware updates and strict security measures to protect systems from potential attacks. By closely monitoring and assessing security vulnerabilities, system administrators can take appropriate actions to prevent unauthorized escalations of privilege and maintain the integrity of their systems.

To address this vulnerability, Intel has released a firmware update (TNTGL357.0064), which is strongly recommended for all affected Intel(R) NUC 11 Pro Kits and Intel(R) NUC 11 Pro Boards. Ensure that you apply this update and follow best practices to secure your systems and data from potential threats.

Timeline

Published on: 11/11/2022 16:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/16/2022 16:59:00 UTC