NVIDIA DGX servers: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality
CVE-2022-42276 is a high-severity missing authentication for critical functionality vulnerability in NVIDIA DGX servers from NVIDIA, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected NVIDIA DGX servers versions: All SBIOS firmware versions prior to 1.18. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.19% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Dgx A100 Firmware to 1.18 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on nvidia.custhelp.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA | NVIDIA DGX servers | All SBIOS firmware versions prior to 1.18 | Not stated |
| NVIDIA | Dgx A100 Firmware | before 1.18 | 1.18 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. 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
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- 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:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA (nvidia.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.2 | High | NVD |
Official description
NVIDIA DGX A100 contains a vulnerability in SBIOS in the SmiFlash, where a local user with elevated privileges can read, write and erase flash, which may lead to code execution, escalation of privileges, denial of service, and information disclosure. The scope of impact can extend to other components.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality
The product does not perform any authentication for functionality that requires a provable user identity or consumes a significant amount of resources.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using libraries with authentication capabilities such as OpenSSL or the ESAPI Authenticator.
- When storing data in the cloud (e.g., S3 buckets, Azure blobs, Google Cloud Storage, etc.), use the provider's controls to require strong authentication for users who should be allowed to access the data.
More Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities (CWE-306)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in NVIDIA DGX servers
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities
- 8.2 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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