Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Lite Edition Design…: Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions
CVE-2024-21809 is a high-severity improper check for unusual or exceptional conditions vulnerability in Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Lite Edition Design software, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.3 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. Affected Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Lite Edition Design software versions: before version 23.1. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.2% 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 quartus_prime_lite_edition_design_software to 23.1 or a later version.
- Update Quartus Prime to 23.1 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on intel.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Lite Edition Design software | Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Lite Edition Design software | before version 23.1 | Not stated |
| Intel | quartus_prime_lite_edition_design_software | before 23.1 | 23.1 |
| Intel | Quartus Prime | before 23.1 | 23.1 |
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
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- RequiredA user must take an action such as opening a file or link.
- 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:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 6.7 | Medium | CNA (intel.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.3 | High | NVD |
Official description
Improper conditions check for some Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Lite Edition Design software before version 23.1 may allow an authenticated 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 Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions
The product does not check or incorrectly checks for unusual or exceptional conditions that are not expected to occur frequently during day to day operation of the product.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a language that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. Choose languages with features such as exception handling that force the programmer to anticipate unusual conditions that may generate exceptions. Custom exceptions may need to be developed to handle unusual business-logic conditions. Be careful not to pass sensitive exceptions back to the user (CWE-209, CWE-248).
- Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is expected.
- If using exception handling, catch and throw specific exceptions instead of overly-general exceptions (CWE-396, CWE-397). Catch and handle exceptions as locally as possible so that exceptions do not propagate too far up the call stack (CWE-705). Avoid unchecked or uncaught exceptions where feasible (CWE-248).
More Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions vulnerabilities (CWE-754)
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 Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Lite Edition Design software
- 7.3 High severity
Recent Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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