CVE-2020-24525

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2020-24525?

CVE-2020-24525 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). This vulnerability in Intel NUC firmware update tools allows authenticated local users to escalate privileges due to insecure inherited permissions. Attackers could gain elevated system access by exploiting improper permission inheritance during firmware update operations. Affected users are those running vulnerable Intel NUC systems with the firmware update tool installed.

7.8 HIGH

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability in Intel NUC firmware update tools allows authenticated local users to escalate privileges due to insecure inherited permissions. Attackers could gain elevated system access by exploiting improper permission inheritance during firmware update operations. Affected users are those running vulnerable Intel NUC systems with the firmware update tool installed.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Intel NUC (Next Unit of Computing) systems with vulnerable firmware update tools

Versions: Specific firmware versions as listed in Intel advisory SA-00414

Operating Systems: Windows, Linux (where firmware update tools are installed)

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Requires local authenticated access and the vulnerable firmware update tool to be present. Not all NUC models are affected - check Intel advisory for specific models.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Full system compromise with administrative/root privileges, allowing complete control over the affected system, installation of persistent malware, and lateral movement within the network.

🟠

Likely Case

Local privilege escalation to SYSTEM/root level, enabling installation of additional malware, credential theft, and bypassing security controls on the compromised host.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact with proper access controls, user privilege separation, and network segmentation preventing lateral movement.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - This vulnerability requires local authenticated access and cannot be exploited remotely over the internet.

🏢 Internal Only: HIGH - Significant risk in internal environments where authenticated users could exploit this to gain administrative privileges on their workstations or shared systems.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: LOW

Exploitation requires authenticated local access. The vulnerability involves permission inheritance issues that could be exploited through standard file manipulation techniques.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Firmware updates as specified in Intel advisory SA-00414

Vendor Advisory: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00414

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Visit Intel's security advisory SA-00414. 2. Identify your specific NUC model. 3. Download the appropriate firmware update from Intel's support site. 4. Run the firmware update tool following Intel's instructions. 5. Reboot the system as required.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Remove vulnerable firmware update tool

all

Uninstall the vulnerable firmware update tool if not needed for regular operations

Windows: Use 'Add or remove programs' to uninstall Intel firmware update tools
Linux: Use package manager to remove intel-firmware-update packages

Restrict local user permissions

all

Implement least privilege principles to limit what authenticated users can do

Windows: Use Group Policy to restrict standard user permissions
Linux: Configure sudoers file to limit privilege escalation

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict access controls and limit local user privileges
Segment affected systems from critical network resources and monitor for suspicious activity

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check Intel advisory SA-00414 for affected NUC models and firmware versions. On Windows, check installed programs for Intel firmware update tools. On Linux, check package manager for intel-firmware-update packages.

Check Version:

Windows: Check BIOS/UEFI version in System Information (msinfo32). Linux: Check dmesg or /sys/class/dmi/id/bios_version

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify firmware version has been updated to patched version using Intel's system information tools or BIOS/UEFI settings. Confirm the firmware update tool version matches patched versions in advisory.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unexpected privilege escalation events
Unauthorized access to firmware update directories
Suspicious process creation with elevated privileges

Network Indicators:

Unusual outbound connections from NUC systems post-exploitation
Lateral movement attempts from compromised NUC systems

SIEM Query:

EventID=4688 AND ProcessName LIKE '%firmware%' AND NewProcessName LIKE '%cmd%' OR EventID=4672 FROM NUC systems

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2020-24525

CVSS v3 Score: 7.8 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-732

Published: November 12, 2020

Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Nov/26 Mailing List,Third Party Advisory
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00414 Vendor Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2020/Nov/26 Mailing List,Third Party Advisory
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00414 Vendor Advisory

📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

Nuc 8 Mainstream G Kit Nuc8i5inh Firmware by Intel

Nuc 8 Mainstream G Kit Nuc8i7inh Firmware by Intel

Nuc 8 Mainstream G Mini Pc Nuc8i5inh Firmware by Intel

Nuc 8 Mainstream G Mini Pc Nuc8i7inh Firmware by Intel

Nuc 8 Pro Board Nuc8i3pnb Firmware by Intel

Nuc 8 Pro Kit Nuc8i3pnh Firmware by Intel

Nuc 8 Pro Kit Nuc8i3pnk Firmware by Intel

Nuc 8 Pro Mini Pc Nuc8i3pnk Firmware by Intel

Nuc 8 Rugged Kit Nuc8cchkr Firmware by Intel

Nuc 9 Pro Kit Nuc9v7qnx Firmware by Intel

Nuc 9 Pro Kit Nuc9vxqnx Firmware by Intel

Nuc Board H27002 400 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Board H27002 401 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Board H27002 402 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Board H27002 404 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Board H27002 500 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Board Nuc8cchb Firmware by Intel

Nuc Kit H26998 401 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Kit H26998 402 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Kit H26998 403 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Kit H26998 404 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Kit H26998 405 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Kit H26998 500 Firmware by Intel