CVE-2022-30283 : Security Advisory and Response

This article provides an in-depth look at CVE-2022-30283, a security vulnerability related to UsbCoreDxe that could lead to SMRAM corruption and privilege escalation.

Understanding CVE-2022-30283

In UsbCoreDxe, tampering with the USB working buffer via DMA during certain USB transactions can result in a time-of-check time-of-use (TOCTOU) issue that might be exploited for SMRAM corruption and privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2022-30283?

The vulnerability in UsbCoreDxe allows attackers to corrupt the USB working buffer outside of SMRAM, potentially leading to privilege escalation due to the buffer being used as untrusted input within SMM code. When pointers in the buffer are not sanitized properly, it can result in undefined behavior.

The Impact of CVE-2022-30283

Exploiting this vulnerability could result in SMRAM corruption and unauthorized privileges escalation, posing a serious security threat to affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-30283

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The UsbCoreDxe module's usage of a working buffer for USB transactions outside of SMRAM creates a security gap that could be exploited through DMA transfers, leading to potential SMRAM corruption and privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor and product details are not disclosed, but the vulnerability impacts various Kernel versions, including 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, and 5.5. Users of these Kernel versions are at risk.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by tampering with the USB working buffer using DMA during specific USB transactions, leading to potential SMRAM corruption and subsequent privilege escalation.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, learn about immediate steps to take and long-term security practices to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2022-30283.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their Kernel to the patched versions provided by the Kernel maintainers to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability and possible security breaches.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust security measures, monitoring unauthorized access, and ensuring timely installation of security patches are essential for maintaining system integrity and protecting against potential threats.

Patching and Updates

The Kernel maintainers have released patched versions for Kernel 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, and 5.5 to address the vulnerability. Users should promptly update their systems to the respective patched versions.