CVE-2023-22449

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2023-22449?

CVE-2023-22449 has a CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH). This vulnerability in Intel NUC BIOS firmware allows a privileged user with local access to potentially escalate privileges through improper input validation. It affects Intel NUC systems with vulnerable BIOS versions. Attackers could gain higher system privileges than intended.

7.5 HIGH

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability in Intel NUC BIOS firmware allows a privileged user with local access to potentially escalate privileges through improper input validation. It affects Intel NUC systems with vulnerable BIOS versions. Attackers could gain higher system privileges than intended.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Intel NUC systems

Versions: Specific BIOS versions as listed in Intel advisory

Operating Systems: All operating systems running on affected NUC hardware

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Requires local access and existing privileged user credentials. Affects specific Intel NUC models with vulnerable BIOS versions.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

An attacker with local privileged access could gain full system control, install persistent malware, bypass security controls, and access sensitive data.

🟠

Likely Case

A malicious insider or compromised account could escalate privileges to install additional malware, maintain persistence, or access restricted system resources.

🟢

If Mitigated

With proper access controls and monitoring, impact is limited to systems where attackers already have privileged access, reducing overall risk.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - This requires local access to the physical system or existing privileged access, not directly exploitable over the internet.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Internal attackers with privileged access could exploit this, but requires existing system access and privileges.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Requires local privileged access and knowledge of the vulnerability. No public exploit code known at this time.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: BIOS updates as specified in Intel advisory

Vendor Advisory: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00917.html

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Visit Intel's security advisory page. 2. Identify your NUC model. 3. Download the latest BIOS update for your model. 4. Follow Intel's BIOS update instructions. 5. Reboot the system after update.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Restrict physical and privileged access

all

Limit who has physical access to NUC systems and reduce the number of privileged accounts.

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict access controls to limit who can access NUC systems
Monitor for unusual privileged account activity and BIOS modification attempts

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check BIOS version in system settings or using Intel's detection tools, then compare against affected versions in Intel advisory.

Check Version:

System-specific: Check BIOS version in UEFI/BIOS settings or use manufacturer tools

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify BIOS version has been updated to a version not listed in the Intel advisory as vulnerable.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unusual BIOS/UEFI modification attempts
Privilege escalation attempts from known accounts
Unexpected system restarts or BIOS updates

Network Indicators:

None - local access required

SIEM Query:

Search for BIOS/UEFI modification events or privilege escalation patterns from local accounts

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2023-22449

CVSS v3 Score: 7.5 (HIGH)

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

CWE: CWE-20

Published: August 11, 2023

Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00917.html Patch,Vendor Advisory
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00917.html Patch,Vendor Advisory

📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

Nuc 11 Compute Element Cm11ebc4w Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Compute Element Cm11ebi38w Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Compute Element Cm11ebi58w Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Compute Element Cm11ebi716w Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Kit Nuc11pahi3 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Kit Nuc11pahi30z Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Kit Nuc11pahi5 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Kit Nuc11pahi50z Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Kit Nuc11pahi7 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Kit Nuc11pahi70z Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Kit Nuc11paki3 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Kit Nuc11paki5 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Kit Nuc11paki7 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Kit Nuc11paqi50wa Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Kit Nuc11paqi70qa Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Mini Pc Nuc11pahi3 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Mini Pc Nuc11pahi30z Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Mini Pc Nuc11pahi5 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Mini Pc Nuc11pahi50z Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Mini Pc Nuc11pahi7 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Mini Pc Nuc11pahi70z Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Mini Pc Nuc11paki3 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Mini Pc Nuc11paki5 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Mini Pc Nuc11paki7 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Mini Pc Nuc11paqi50wa Firmware by Intel

Nuc 11 Performance Mini Pc Nuc11paqi70qa Firmware by Intel

Nuc 12 Compute Element Elm12hbc Firmware by Intel

Nuc 12 Compute Element Elm12hbi3 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 12 Compute Element Elm12hbi5 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 12 Compute Element Elm12hbi7 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 12 Extreme Compute Element Nuc12dcmi7 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 12 Extreme Compute Element Nuc12dcmi9 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 12 Extreme Compute Element Nuc12edbi7 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 12 Extreme Compute Element Nuc12edbi9 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 13 Extreme Compute Element Nuc13sbbi5 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 13 Extreme Compute Element Nuc13sbbi5f Firmware by Intel

Nuc 13 Extreme Compute Element Nuc13sbbi7 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 13 Extreme Compute Element Nuc13sbbi7f Firmware by Intel

Nuc 13 Extreme Compute Element Nuc13sbbi9 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 13 Extreme Compute Element Nuc13sbbi9f Firmware by Intel

Nuc 13 Extreme Kit Nuc13rngi5 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 13 Extreme Kit Nuc13rngi7 Firmware by Intel

Nuc 13 Extreme Kit Nuc13rngi9 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnbi3 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnbi30z Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnbi5 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnbi50z Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnbi7 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnbi70z Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnhi3 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnhi30l Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnhi30p Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnhi30z Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnhi5 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnhi50l Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnhi50w Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnhi50z Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnhi7 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnhi70l Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnhi70q Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnhi70z Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnki3 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnki30z Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnki5 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnki50z Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnki7 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Boards Nuc11tnki70z Firmware by Intel

Nuc Enthusiast Nuc12snki72 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Enthusiast Nuc12snki72va Firmware by Intel

Nuc Essential Nuc11atbc4 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Essential Nuc11atkc2 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Essential Nuc11atkc2 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Essential Nuc11atkc4 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Essential Nuc11atkpe Firmware by Intel

Nuc Extreme Compute Element Nuc11btmi7 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Extreme Compute Element Nuc11btmi9 Firmware by Intel

Nuc Extreme Compute Element Nuc11dbbi7 Firmware by Intel