CVE-2021-33091 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in the Intel(R) NUC M15 Laptop Kit audio driver pack before version 1.3. An attacker with local access and authenticated user privileges may exploit insecure inherited permissions in the installer, potentially leading to an escalation of privilege.

Understanding CVE-2021-33091

This section provides a detailed overview of the CVE-2021-33091 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-33091?

The CVE-2021-33091 vulnerability exists in the installer for the Intel(R) NUC M15 Laptop Kit audio driver pack, specifically in versions earlier than 1.3. It is caused by insecure inherited permissions that could be leveraged by an authenticated user with local access to escalate privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2021-33091

Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow a threat actor to elevate their privileges on the system, leading to unauthorized access and potential control over the affected device.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-33091

In this section, we delve into the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-33091 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from insecure inherited permissions in the installer for the Intel(R) NUC M15 Laptop Kit audio driver pack, affecting versions prior to 1.3. This flaw enables an authenticated user with local access to potentially execute an escalation of privilege attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts the Intel(R) NUC M15 Laptop Kit audio driver pack versions before 1.3. Users with these versions are at risk of exploitation by malicious actors leveraging the insecure permissions.

Exploitation Mechanism

Threat actors with authenticated user privileges and local access can exploit the insecure inherited permissions within the audio driver pack installer to escalate their privileges on the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of the CVE-2021-33091 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update the Intel(R) NUC M15 Laptop Kit audio driver pack to version 1.3 or later to remediate the vulnerability. Additionally, restricting access to privileged accounts can help prevent unauthorized privilege escalation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing the principle of least privilege, regularly monitoring and updating software components, and conducting security awareness training can enhance the overall security posture and mitigate similar threats in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly installing security patches provided by Intel for the Intel(R) NUC M15 Laptop Kit audio driver pack is crucial to address known vulnerabilities and protect systems from potential exploitation.