CVE-2018-12131 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Intel NVMe and Intel RSTe driver pack installers prior to specific versions may allow an authenticated user to escalate privileges locally.

Understanding CVE-2018-12131

This CVE involves an escalation of privilege vulnerability in Intel NVMe and Intel RSTe driver pack installers.

What is CVE-2018-12131?

The driver pack installers for Intel NVMe before version 4.0.0.1007 and Intel RSTe before version 4.7.0.2083 may have permissions that could enable an authenticated user to potentially increase their privileges through local access.

The Impact of CVE-2018-12131

The vulnerability could allow an authenticated user to escalate their privileges locally, posing a security risk to the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-12131

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE-2018-12131 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Permissions in the driver pack installers for Intel NVMe before version 4.0.0.1007 and Intel RSTe before version 4.7.0.2083 may allow an authenticated user to potentially escalate privilege via local access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Intel NVMe and Intel RSTe
Vendor: Intel Corporation
Versions Affected: Various

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by an authenticated user to elevate their privileges locally.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-12131 requires specific actions to mitigate the risk.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Intel NVMe to version 4.0.0.1007 or later.
Update Intel RSTe to version 4.7.0.2083 or higher.
Monitor and restrict user permissions to minimize the impact of privilege escalation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update drivers and software to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit user permissions.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Intel to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.