CVE-2022-21220
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Intel Quartus Prime Pro Edition allows authenticated local users to exploit improper XML external entity (XXE) restrictions, potentially enabling privilege escalation. It affects users running vulnerable versions of the software with local access to the system. The attack requires authentication but could lead to elevated privileges.
💻 Affected Systems
- Intel Quartus Prime Pro Edition
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An authenticated attacker gains full system control through privilege escalation, potentially compromising the entire system and accessing sensitive data.
Likely Case
An authenticated user with malicious intent elevates their privileges to perform unauthorized actions within the Quartus Prime environment.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and patching, the risk is limited to authenticated users who cannot exploit the XXE vulnerability.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated local access and knowledge of XXE techniques; no public exploits are known.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 21.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00632.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download Intel Quartus Prime Pro Edition version 21.3 or later from Intel's official website. 2. Install the update following Intel's installation guide. 3. Restart the system to apply changes.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Local Access
allLimit access to the Quartus Prime software to trusted users only to reduce attack surface.
Disable XML External Entity Processing
allConfigure the software or system to disable XXE processing if supported, though this may affect functionality.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to limit who can use the Quartus Prime software locally.
- Monitor system logs for unusual activity related to XML processing or privilege escalation attempts.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the installed version of Intel Quartus Prime Pro Edition; if it is earlier than 21.3, it is vulnerable.Check Version:
On Linux: Run 'quartus --version' or check the installation directory. On Windows: Check the version in the program's About section or installation path.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify that the installed version is 21.3 or later by checking the software version in the application or system.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual XML parsing errors
- Failed privilege escalation attempts in system logs
- Access to Quartus Prime by unauthorized users
Network Indicators:
- Local network traffic to Quartus Prime processes if monitored
SIEM Query:
Search for events related to 'Intel Quartus Prime' and 'privilege escalation' or 'XML' in system logs.