CVE-2024-21837
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Intel Quartus Prime Lite Edition software allows authenticated local users to escalate privileges by exploiting an uncontrolled search path (DLL hijacking). It affects users running vulnerable versions of this FPGA design software on Windows systems.
💻 Affected Systems
- Intel Quartus Prime Lite Edition Design Software
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An authenticated attacker could execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM/administrator privileges, potentially gaining complete control of the affected system.
Likely Case
Local authenticated users could escalate privileges to administrator level, allowing them to install malware, modify system configurations, or access sensitive data.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and least privilege principles, impact is limited to the user's own account scope.
🎯 Exploit Status
DLL hijacking vulnerabilities typically have low exploitation complexity for local attackers with basic knowledge.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 23.1 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01055.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download Intel Quartus Prime Lite Edition version 23.1 or later from Intel's website. 2. Uninstall the vulnerable version. 3. Install the updated version. 4. Restart the system.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict DLL loading paths
windowsConfigure Windows to restrict DLL search paths using application control policies or SafeDllSearchMode
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager" /v SafeDllSearchMode /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
Apply least privilege
windowsRun Quartus software with standard user accounts instead of administrator accounts
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove local user access for untrusted users from systems running Quartus software
- Implement application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized DLLs
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Quartus Prime version via Help > About in the application or examine installed programs in Control PanelCheck Version:
wmic product where "name like '%Quartus%'" get versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify installed version is 23.1 or later and check that DLL hijacking protections are in place📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Windows Event Logs showing DLL loading from unexpected locations
- Process creation events for Quartus executables with suspicious parent processes
Network Indicators:
- No network indicators - this is a local privilege escalation
SIEM Query:
source="Windows Security" EventCode=4688 ProcessName="*quartus*" OR ParentProcessName="*quartus*"