CVE-2019-18216 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE involves a BIOS configuration design flaw in ASUS ROG Zephyrus M GM501GS laptops with BIOS 313, where the main battery is used instead of a CMOS battery. This design choice allows attackers to reset the BIOS configuration by depleting the main battery, enabling them to bypass security measures and gain direct access to the hard drive.

Understanding CVE-2019-18216

This vulnerability affects the security of ASUS ROG Zephyrus M GM501GS laptops by compromising the BIOS configuration.

What is CVE-2019-18216?

The BIOS configuration design on ASUS ROG Zephyrus M GM501GS laptops with BIOS 313 relies on the main battery instead of a CMOS battery, reducing the effectiveness of security measures that prevent booting from a USB device.

The Impact of CVE-2019-18216

Attackers with physical access to the laptop can exploit this vulnerability to reset the BIOS configuration by depleting the main battery. This allows them to boot a live USB OS and gain direct access to the hard drive without disassembling the laptop.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-18216

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The design flaw in the BIOS configuration of ASUS ROG Zephyrus M GM501GS laptops allows attackers to reset the BIOS by draining the main battery, bypassing security measures.

Affected Systems and Versions

ASUS ROG Zephyrus M GM501GS laptops with BIOS 313

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exhaust the main battery to reset the BIOS configuration and gain unauthorized access to the hard drive.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Monitor physical access to laptops to prevent unauthorized manipulation of the main battery.
Implement additional security measures to restrict booting from external devices.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update BIOS firmware to address security vulnerabilities.
Educate users on physical security best practices to prevent unauthorized access.
Consider implementing two-factor authentication for enhanced security.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about vendor updates and patches to address this BIOS configuration flaw.