CVE-2022-29262

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2022-29262?

CVE-2022-29262 has a CVSS score of 7.9 (HIGH). This CVE describes a buffer restriction vulnerability in certain Intel Server Board BIOS firmware that allows a privileged user with local access to potentially escalate privileges. The vulnerability affects systems running specific Intel server hardware with vulnerable BIOS versions. Attackers could gain higher system privileges than intended.

7.9 HIGH

📋 TL;DR

This CVE describes a buffer restriction vulnerability in certain Intel Server Board BIOS firmware that allows a privileged user with local access to potentially escalate privileges. The vulnerability affects systems running specific Intel server hardware with vulnerable BIOS versions. Attackers could gain higher system privileges than intended.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Intel Server Board S2600WF family
Intel Server Board S2600ST family
Intel Server Board S2600BP family

Versions: BIOS versions before 02.01.0021

Operating Systems: All operating systems running on affected hardware

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Only affects specific Intel server boards with vulnerable BIOS firmware. Requires local access to the system or remote management interface access.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

A privileged attacker could gain complete control of the server hardware, bypass all security controls, install persistent firmware-level malware, and compromise the entire server infrastructure.

🟠

Likely Case

A malicious insider or compromised administrator account could escalate privileges to gain full system control, potentially accessing sensitive data or deploying additional malware.

🟢

If Mitigated

With proper access controls, least privilege principles, and BIOS password protection, the attack surface is significantly reduced, though the vulnerability remains present.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - This vulnerability requires local access to the physical server or remote management interface with existing credentials.

🏢 Internal Only: HIGH - Internal privileged users or compromised administrator accounts could exploit this vulnerability to gain complete system control.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Exploitation requires existing privileged access to the system. No public exploit code has been disclosed as of knowledge cutoff.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: BIOS version 02.01.0021 or later

Vendor Advisory: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00719.html

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Download BIOS update from Intel support site. 2. Verify checksum of downloaded file. 3. Follow Intel's BIOS update procedure for your specific server board model. 4. Reboot system after update completes.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Restrict physical and remote management access

all

Limit who can physically access servers and configure strict access controls for remote management interfaces like IPMI/BMC.

Implement BIOS password protection

all

Set strong BIOS passwords to prevent unauthorized BIOS configuration changes.

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict access controls to limit who can physically access affected servers
Monitor for suspicious BIOS configuration changes and privilege escalation attempts

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check BIOS version in system BIOS setup or using Intel's System Management Utility. Compare against vulnerable versions (before 02.01.0021).

Check Version:

On Linux: dmidecode -t bios | grep Version; On Windows: wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify BIOS version shows 02.01.0021 or later in BIOS setup menu or system management tools.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unexpected BIOS update attempts
BIOS configuration changes
Privilege escalation events
Unauthorized access to management interfaces

Network Indicators:

Unusual traffic to/from BMC/IPMI interfaces
Multiple failed authentication attempts to management interfaces

SIEM Query:

source="bios_logs" AND (event="configuration_change" OR event="firmware_update") OR source="auth_logs" AND target_user="root" AND result="success" AND source_ip IN [management_network]

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2022-29262

CVSS v3 Score: 7.9 (HIGH)

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

CWE: CWE-92

Published: November 14, 2023

Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00719.html Patch,Vendor Advisory
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00719.html Patch,Vendor Advisory

📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

Compute Module Hns2600bpb Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bpb24 Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bpblc Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bpblc24 Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bpblc24r Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bpblcr Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bpbr Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bpq Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bpq24 Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bpq24r Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bpqr Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bps Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bps24 Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bps24r Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Hns2600bpsr Firmware by Intel

Compute Module Liquid Cooled Hns2600bpbrct Firmware by Intel

Server Board M10jnp2sb Firmware by Intel

Server Board M20ntp2sb Firmware by Intel

Server Board M70klp2sb Firmware by Intel

Server Board S2600bpb Firmware by Intel

Server Board S2600bpbr Firmware by Intel

Server Board S2600bpq Firmware by Intel

Server Board S2600bpqr Firmware by Intel

Server Board S2600bps Firmware by Intel

Server Board S2600bpsr Firmware by Intel

Server System M20ntp1ur304 Firmware by Intel

Server System M70klp4s2uhh Firmware by Intel

Server System Mcb2208wfaf5 Firmware by Intel

Server System Vrn2224bpaf6 Firmware by Intel

Server System Vrn2224bphy6 Firmware by Intel

Server System Zsb2224bpaf1 Firmware by Intel

Server System Zsb2224bpaf2 Firmware by Intel

Server System Zsb2224bphy1 Firmware by Intel