CVE-2020-8756 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Intel(R) CSME versions before 11.8.80, 11.12.80, 11.22.80, 12.0.70, and 14.0.45 are affected by an improper input validation vulnerability that may lead to privilege escalation.

Understanding CVE-2020-8756

This CVE identifies a security flaw in Intel(R) CSME that could allow a privileged user to potentially escalate their privileges through local access.

What is CVE-2020-8756?

The vulnerability in Intel(R) CSME versions before specific releases allows a privileged user to exploit improper input validation, potentially leading to privilege escalation.

The Impact of CVE-2020-8756

The vulnerability could be exploited by a privileged user to elevate their privileges, posing a significant security risk to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-8756

This section provides technical details about the vulnerability in Intel(R) CSME.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from improper input validation in Intel(R) CSME versions before 11.8.80, 11.12.80, 11.22.80, 12.0.70, and 14.0.45, enabling a privileged user to potentially escalate their privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Intel(R) CSME
Versions Affected: versions before 11.8.80, 11.12.80, 11.22.80, 12.0.70, and 14.0.45

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability may be exploited by a privileged user with local access to the system, leveraging the improper input validation to escalate their privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-8756 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by Intel for the affected versions of CSME.
Monitor and restrict privileged user access to critical systems.
Implement strong access controls and authentication mechanisms.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware components.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Intel has released patches to address the vulnerability in affected versions of CSME. Ensure timely application of these patches to mitigate the risk of privilege escalation.