CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2024-25079NVD status: Analyzed

insydeh2o: Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2024-25079 is a high-severity release of invalid pointer or reference vulnerability in insydeh2o from Insyde, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.4 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. The record lists versions 05.38.09, 05.46.09, 05.54.09 as the first without the flaw, so updating insydeh2o to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.15% 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 insydeh2o to 05.38.09 or 05.46.09 or 05.54.09 or 05.29.09, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Read the advisory on insyde.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Insydeinsydeh2o5.2 up to, but not including, 05.38.09; 5.3 up to, but not including, 05.46.09; 5.4 up to, but not including, 05.54.09; 5.5 up to, but not including, 05.29.09; 5.6 up to, but not including, 05.61.0905.38.09, 05.46.09, 05.54.09, 05.29.09, 05.61.09

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
HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
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
LowPerformance or availability is reduced.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L. Scored by CISA (ADP).

Official description

A memory corruption vulnerability in HddPassword in Insyde InsydeH2O kernel 5.2 before 05.29.09, kernel 5.3 before 05.38.09, kernel 5.4 before 05.46.09, kernel 5.5 before 05.54.09, and kernel 5.6 before 05.61.09 could lead to escalating privileges in SMM.

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

The underlying weakness: Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference

The product attempts to return a memory resource to the system, but it calls the wrong release function or calls the appropriate release function incorrectly.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Only call matching memory management functions. Do not mix and match routines. For example, when you allocate a buffer with malloc(), dispose of the original pointer with free().
  • When programming in C++, consider using smart pointers provided by the boost library to help correctly and consistently manage memory.
  • 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, glibc in Linux provides protection against free of invalid pointers.

More Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference vulnerabilities (CWE-763)

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

Other vulnerabilities in insydeh2o

All insydeh2o vulnerabilities

Recent Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.