CVE-2024-39355
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in certain Intel processors allows an authenticated local user to cause a denial of service by exploiting improper handling of physical or environmental conditions. It affects systems running vulnerable Intel CPUs, requiring physical or local access to exploit. The impact is limited to availability rather than confidentiality or integrity.
💻 Affected Systems
- Intel Processors (specific models not detailed in provided references)
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system crash or hang requiring physical power cycle, disrupting critical services on affected servers or workstations.
Likely Case
Temporary system instability or service interruption affecting single systems, with automatic recovery possible in some cases.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper access controls preventing unauthorized local access and monitoring for abnormal system behavior.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires authenticated local access and specific conditions to trigger. No public exploit code identified in references.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Microcode updates from Intel, OS-specific patches (e.g., Debian security updates)
Vendor Advisory: https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01228.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check Intel advisory for specific affected processors. 2. Apply latest microcode updates from Intel. 3. Apply OS vendor patches (e.g., Debian security updates). 4. Reboot system to load updated microcode.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict local access
allLimit physical and local administrative access to critical systems to reduce attack surface.
Monitor system stability
allImplement monitoring for unexpected system crashes or hangs that could indicate exploitation attempts.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to prevent unauthorized local access to vulnerable systems
- Deploy additional monitoring for system stability issues and have incident response plans for potential DoS events
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Intel processor model and microcode version. On Linux: 'cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep -E "model|microcode"'. Compare with Intel's advisory.Check Version:
Linux: 'uname -a' for kernel, 'cat /proc/cpuinfo' for CPU details. Windows: 'systeminfo' command.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify microcode update applied: On Linux: 'dmesg | grep microcode'. Check OS patch status via package manager.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected system crashes or hangs
- Kernel panic logs
- Hardware error messages in system logs
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local attack
SIEM Query:
Search for: 'kernel panic', 'system crash', 'hardware error' events from critical systems