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CVE-2022-36789NVD status: Modified

Intel(R) NUC 10 Performance Kits and Intel(R)…: Improper Access Control

CVE-2022-36789 is a high-severity improper access control vulnerability in Intel(R) NUC 10 Performance Kits and Intel(R) NUC 10 Performance Mini PCs, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected Intel(R) NUC 10 Performance Kits and Intel(R) NUC 10 Performance Mini PCs versions: before version FNCML357.0053. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.18% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Nuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i7fnhn Firmware to fncml357.0053 or a later version.
  2. Update Nuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i5fnkn Firmware to fncml357.0053 or a later version.
  3. Update Nuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i5fnhn Firmware to fncml357.0053 or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on intel.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Intel(R) NUC 10 Performance Kits and Intel(R) NUC 10 Performance Mini PCsIntel(R) NUC 10 Performance Kits and Intel(R) NUC 10 Performance Mini PCsbefore version FNCML357.0053Not stated
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i7fnhn Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i5fnkn Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i5fnhn Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i7fnkn Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i3fnhn Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i3fnkn Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Mini Pc Nuc10i5fnhja Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i3fnhf Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Mini Pc Nuc10i5fnhca Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Mini Pc Nuc10i3fnhfa Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i5fnhj Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i7fnhc Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Mini Pc Nuc10i7fnhja Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Mini Pc Nuc10i3fnhja Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i3fnk Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Mini Pc Nuc10i7fnhaa Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i5fnh Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i5fnk Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i7fnh Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i5fnhf Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Mini Pc Nuc10i7fnkpa Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Mini Pc Nuc10i5fnkpa Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i3fnh Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053
IntelNuc 10 Performance Kit Nuc10i7fnk Firmwarebefore fncml357.0053fncml357.0053

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE; 2 further products are omitted here. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.5HighCNA (intel.com)
CVSS 3.17.8HighNVD

Official description

Improper access control in BIOS firmware for some Intel(R) NUC 10 Performance Kits and Intel(R) NUC 10 Performance Mini PCs before version FNCML357.0053 may allow a privileged user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Access Control

The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
  • Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.

More Improper Access Control vulnerabilities (CWE-284)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Improper Access Control vulnerabilities

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