CVE-2023-24460
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated users on a local system to escalate privileges due to incorrect default permissions in Intel GPA software installers. It affects systems running vulnerable versions of Intel GPA software before version 2023.3. Attackers could gain elevated system access by exploiting the insecure installer permissions.
💻 Affected Systems
- Intel Graphics Performance Analyzers (GPA)
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An authenticated attacker gains full SYSTEM/root privileges on the affected machine, enabling complete system compromise, data theft, and persistence establishment.
Likely Case
Local authenticated users (including low-privilege accounts) escalate to administrative privileges, allowing them to install malware, modify system configurations, or access protected data.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and least privilege principles, impact is limited to authorized administrative users only.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local authenticated access. The vulnerability involves insecure file/folder permissions that could be manipulated for privilege escalation.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2023.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00831.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download Intel GPA version 2023.3 or later from Intel's official website. 2. Uninstall any previous vulnerable versions. 3. Install the updated version. 4. Restart the system to ensure all changes take effect.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Remove vulnerable Intel GPA software
windowsUninstall Intel GPA software if not required for operations
Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program > Select Intel GPA > Uninstall
Restrict installer directory permissions
windowsManually set secure permissions on Intel GPA installation directories
icacls "C:\Program Files\Intel\GPA" /inheritance:r /grant:r "SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)F" "Administrators:(OI)(CI)F" /deny "Users:(OI)(CI)(W)"
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove Intel GPA software if not essential for operations
- Implement strict access controls and least privilege principles for all user accounts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Intel GPA version: Open Intel GPA application and check Help > About, or check installed programs list for versions before 2023.3Check Version:
On Windows: wmic product where "name like '%Intel%GPA%'" get versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Intel GPA version is 2023.3 or later, and check that installer directories have proper permissions set📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Windows Event Logs: Security logs showing privilege escalation attempts, Process creation logs for unexpected installer executions
Network Indicators:
- No network indicators - this is a local privilege escalation vulnerability
SIEM Query:
EventID=4688 AND (ProcessName LIKE '%gpa%' OR ProcessName LIKE '%intel%install%') AND NewProcessName LIKE '%cmd%' OR NewProcessName LIKE '%powershell%'