CVE-2020-12371 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in some versions of Intel(R) Graphics Drivers could allow a privileged user to trigger a denial of service attack through local access.

Understanding CVE-2020-12371

This CVE identifies a divide-by-zero issue in specific Intel(R) Graphics Drivers versions, potentially leading to a denial of service.

What is CVE-2020-12371?

The vulnerability in certain Intel(R) Graphics Drivers versions could be exploited by a privileged user to cause a denial of service via local access.

The Impact of CVE-2020-12371

The vulnerability may allow an attacker to crash the system, leading to a denial of service condition, impacting system availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-12371

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves a divide-by-zero issue in Intel(R) Graphics Drivers versions prior to 26.20.100.8141, which could be abused for a denial of service attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Intel(R) Graphics Drivers
Versions Affected: Before version 26.20.100.8141

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a privileged user with local access to trigger a divide-by-zero operation, resulting in a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-12371 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Intel for the affected versions.
Monitor for any unusual system behavior that could indicate a denial of service attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update graphics drivers to the latest versions to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user access and minimize the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Intel has released patches addressing the vulnerability. Ensure all affected systems are updated to versions beyond 26.20.100.8141 to prevent exploitation.