CVE-2023-32544
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Intel HotKey Services for Windows 10 on Intel NUC P14E Laptop Element allows authenticated local users to potentially cause denial of service through improper access control. It affects users running vulnerable versions of the software on Windows 10 systems with Intel NUC P14E hardware. The issue stems from insufficient access restrictions in the software installer.
💻 Affected Systems
- Intel HotKey Services for Windows 10 for Intel NUC P14E Laptop Element
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An authenticated attacker could crash or disable Intel HotKey Services, potentially disrupting system functionality that depends on these services, leading to system instability or loss of hotkey functionality.
Likely Case
Local authenticated users could cause temporary service disruption, requiring service restart or system reboot to restore normal functionality.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and patching, the vulnerability is eliminated, preventing any denial of service through this vector.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local authenticated access, which reduces the attack surface compared to remote vulnerabilities.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version 1.1.45 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00964.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download Intel HotKey Services version 1.1.45 or later from Intel's website. 2. Run the installer as administrator. 3. Follow the installation prompts. 4. Restart the system to complete the update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Intel HotKey Services
windowsTemporarily disable the vulnerable service to prevent exploitation while awaiting patch deployment.
sc stop "Intel HotKey Service"
sc config "Intel HotKey Service" start= disabled
Restrict Local Access
windowsImplement stricter local access controls to limit which users can interact with the service.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to limit which local users have permissions to interact with Intel HotKey Services
- Monitor system logs for unusual service termination or access attempts to Intel HotKey Services
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the installed version of Intel HotKey Services in Programs and Features or via command: wmic product where "name like 'Intel HotKey%'" get versionCheck Version:
wmic product where "name like 'Intel HotKey%'" get versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify the installed version is 1.1.45 or later using the same command and ensure the service is running normally📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected termination of Intel HotKey Service
- Access denied errors in service logs
- Multiple service restart attempts
Network Indicators:
- No network indicators - this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
EventID=7036 AND ServiceName="Intel HotKey Service" AND (State="stopped" OR State="paused")