CVE-2018-12190 : What You Need to Know

Intel Corporation's Intel(R) CSME, Server Platform Services, Trusted Execution Engine, and Intel(R) Active Management Technology are affected by a privilege escalation vulnerability due to insufficient input validation.

Understanding CVE-2018-12190

The vulnerability in Intel products could allow a privileged user to escalate their privileges through local access.

What is CVE-2018-12190?

The Intel(R) CSME subsystem versions 11.8.60, 11.11.60, 11.22.60, and 12.0.20, along with Intel(R) TXE versions 3.1.60 and 4.0.10, are susceptible to privilege escalation if exploited by a privileged user due to inadequate input validation.

The Impact of CVE-2018-12190

This vulnerability could potentially allow an attacker with local access to gain escalated privileges on affected systems, posing a significant security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-12190

The technical details of the CVE-2018-12190 vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

Insufficient input validation in Intel(R) CSME subsystem versions 11.8.60, 11.11.60, 11.22.60, 12.0.20, and Intel(R) TXE versions 3.1.60, 4.0.10 may enable a privileged user to escalate their privileges via local access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products affected: Intel(R) CSME, Server Platform Services, Trusted Execution Engine, and Intel(R) Active Management Technology
Vulnerable versions: Multiple versions

Exploitation Mechanism

The lack of sufficient input validation in the mentioned versions of Intel products allows a privileged user to exploit the vulnerability locally, leading to privilege escalation.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-12190 and enhance system security, consider the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Intel promptly.
Monitor and restrict privileged user access to vulnerable systems.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and address potential security weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Intel and apply patches as soon as they are released to protect systems from exploitation.