CVE-2020-24450
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Intel Graphics Drivers allows authenticated local users to potentially escalate privileges through an improper conditions check. It affects systems with vulnerable Intel graphics drivers before specific versions. Attackers could gain higher system privileges than intended.
💻 Affected Systems
- Intel Graphics Drivers
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An authenticated attacker gains SYSTEM/root privileges, enabling complete system compromise, data theft, persistence installation, and lateral movement.
Likely Case
Local authenticated users (including low-privilege accounts) escalate to administrative privileges, allowing installation of malware, configuration changes, and access to sensitive data.
If Mitigated
With proper privilege separation and least privilege principles, impact is limited to the compromised user's scope, though administrative access remains possible.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local authenticated access and knowledge of driver interaction. No public exploit code known at advisory publication.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 26.20.100.8141, 15.45.32.5145, or 15.40.46.5144 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00438.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Visit Intel Driver & Support Assistant or download center. 2. Identify your Intel graphics hardware. 3. Download and install driver version 26.20.100.8141 or later for current generation, or 15.45.32.5145/15.40.46.5144 for older generations. 4. Restart system.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict local user privileges
allImplement least privilege by removing local administrative rights from standard users
Application control/whitelisting
allPrevent unauthorized applications from executing through application control solutions
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict least privilege - ensure no users have unnecessary local admin rights
- Monitor for privilege escalation attempts and unusual driver-related process activity
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Intel graphics driver version in Device Manager (Windows) or via 'lspci -k' and driver info (Linux). Compare against vulnerable versions.Check Version:
Windows: dxdiag (Display tab) or Device Manager > Display adapters > Properties > Driver. Linux: Check /sys/class/drm/card*/device/uevent or vendor-specific tools.Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm driver version is 26.20.100.8141 or later, or 15.45.32.5145/15.40.46.5144 for older hardware.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected privilege escalation events
- Driver-related process creation with high privileges
- Failed driver access attempts
Network Indicators:
- None - local exploitation only
SIEM Query:
EventID 4688 (Windows) showing process creation with SYSTEM privileges from user context, or Linux audit logs showing uid changes via driver-related processes