CVE-2020-12312 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Intel(R) Stratix(R) 10 FPGA firmware provided with the Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Pro software before version 20.2 has an improper buffer restrictions vulnerability that could lead to an escalation of privilege.

Understanding CVE-2020-12312

This CVE involves a security issue in the Intel(R) Stratix(R) 10 FPGA firmware within the Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Pro software.

What is CVE-2020-12312?

The vulnerability in the Intel(R) Stratix(R) 10 FPGA firmware before version 20.2 allows an unauthenticated user to potentially escalate privileges through physical access.

The Impact of CVE-2020-12312

The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to gain elevated privileges, posing a significant security risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-12312

The following technical details provide insight into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Improper buffer restrictions in the Intel(R) Stratix(R) 10 FPGA firmware

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Intel(R) Stratix(R) 10 FPGA firmware provided with Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Pro software
Versions Affected: Before version 20.2

Exploitation Mechanism

An unauthenticated user with physical access may exploit the vulnerability to enable escalation of privilege.

Mitigation and Prevention

Taking immediate steps and implementing long-term security practices are crucial to mitigating the risks associated with CVE-2020-12312.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Pro software to version 20.2 or later.
Restrict physical access to systems running the affected firmware.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit system access controls.
Educate users on security best practices to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

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