CVE-2023-22613
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to write to arbitrary memory addresses in System Management Mode (SMM) by providing malformed pointers to SMI handlers. It affects systems running Insyde InsydeH2O firmware with kernel versions 5.0 through 5.5, potentially enabling SMM memory corruption and privilege escalation.
💻 Affected Systems
- Insyde InsydeH2O firmware
📦 What is this software?
Insydeh2o by Insyde
Insydeh2o by Insyde
Insydeh2o by Insyde
Insydeh2o by Insyde
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise including firmware persistence, bypassing all OS-level security controls, and potential hardware bricking.
Likely Case
Privilege escalation to SMM level, allowing attackers to bypass OS security mechanisms and maintain persistence.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if SMM protections are properly configured and firmware is updated, though risk remains for unpatched systems.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and ability to invoke SMI handlers; research details are publicly available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Kernel version 5.6 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.insyde.com/security-pledge/SA-2023023
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Contact device manufacturer for BIOS/UEFI firmware update. 2. Download and install updated firmware. 3. Reboot system to apply changes.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
SMM Memory Protection
allConfigure SMM memory protection mechanisms if available in firmware settings.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict physical access to vulnerable systems
- Implement strict privilege separation and monitoring for SMM-related activities
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check firmware version in BIOS/UEFI settings or using manufacturer-specific tools; kernel version 5.0-5.5 indicates vulnerability.Check Version:
Manufacturer-specific commands vary; typically check via BIOS/UEFI setup or OEM-provided utilities.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version is updated to kernel 5.6 or later through BIOS/UEFI interface.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual SMI handler invocations
- Firmware modification attempts
Network Indicators:
- None - local exploitation only
SIEM Query:
Search for firmware update events or SMM-related security alerts specific to your environment.🔗 References
- https://research.nccgroup.com/2023/04/11/stepping-insyde-system-management-mode/
- https://www.insyde.com/security-pledge
- https://www.insyde.com/security-pledge/SA-2023023
- https://research.nccgroup.com/2023/04/11/stepping-insyde-system-management-mode/
- https://www.insyde.com/security-pledge
- https://www.insyde.com/security-pledge/SA-2023023
