CVE-2021-33157
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Intel Ethernet Adapters and I225 Manageability firmware allows a privileged user to potentially escalate privileges via local access due to insufficient control flow management. It affects systems using specific Intel Ethernet hardware with vulnerable firmware. Exploitation requires local access and privileged credentials.
💻 Affected Systems
- Intel Ethernet Adapters
- Intel Ethernet Controller I225 Manageability firmware
📦 What is this software?
Ethernet Adapter Complete Driver by Intel
Ethernet Controller I225 It Firmware by Intel
View all CVEs affecting Ethernet Controller I225 It Firmware →
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
A privileged attacker could gain higher-level system access, potentially compromising the entire system or network.
Likely Case
Limited to local privilege escalation by authorized users, leading to unauthorized control over affected systems.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and patching, risk is minimal as exploitation requires local privileged access.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local privileged access, making it less likely for widespread attacks but still a concern in targeted scenarios.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Refer to Intel advisory for specific firmware updates; version varies by product.
Vendor Advisory: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00756.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check Intel advisory for affected products. 2. Download updated firmware from Intel support site. 3. Follow vendor instructions to flash firmware. 4. Reboot system to apply changes.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Local Access
allLimit physical and remote local access to systems with affected hardware to reduce attack surface.
Monitor Privileged Accounts
allImplement strict monitoring and least privilege for user accounts with local access.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate affected systems from critical networks to limit potential damage.
- Enhance logging and monitoring for unusual privilege escalation attempts.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check firmware version on Intel Ethernet hardware using vendor tools or system commands; compare with Intel advisory.Check Version:
On Linux: 'ethtool -i <interface>' or use Intel-provided utilities; on Windows, check Device Manager or Intel software.Verify Fix Applied:
After updating firmware, verify the version matches the patched release from Intel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual privilege escalation events in system logs
- Firmware modification attempts
Network Indicators:
- None directly, as it's a local exploit
SIEM Query:
Search for events related to local privilege escalation or firmware changes on systems with Intel Ethernet hardware.