CVE-2021-33157: Insufficient Control Flow Management in Intel(R) Ethernet Adapters and Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225 Manageability Firmware – A Deep Dive into Exploit Details and Mitigations

CVE-2021-33157 is a security vulnerability present in specific Intel(R) Ethernet Adapters and Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225 manageability firmware. Insufficient control flow management in these devices may enable a privileged user to escalate privileges via local access potentially. This blog post provides an in-depth analysis of this vulnerability, its implications, and ways to mitigate its impact.

Background

The affected products in this case are specific Intel(R) Ethernet Adapters such as Intel(R) PRO/100 and Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225 series. These devices help users in network operations and communication by providing interfaces between computers and the network. Manageability firmware in these Ethernet adapters is crucial as it is responsible for enabling proper control flow and integrity checks while carrying out network-related tasks.

The Vulnerability (CVE-2021-33157)

CVE-2021-33157 specifically targets the insufficient control flow management within the firmware of the mentioned Intel(R) Ethernet Adapters and Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225 series. This lack of rigor in the control flow management could potentially lead to a privileged attacker executing malicious code and gaining higher privileges on a targeted system.

Exploit Details

The exploit details for CVE-2021-33157 are yet to be publicly disclosed. But from the available information, we can deduce the following steps an attacker could take to exploit this vulnerability:

1. The attacker must first obtain local access to the targeted system, possessing user-level privileges.

2. The attacker then searches for the firmware manageability module in the affected Intel(R) Ethernet Adapter or Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225 device.

3. Upon identifying the module, the attacker can utilize the vulnerability present in the control flow management by injecting a malicious payload.

4. Once the payload is injected and executed successfully, the attacker can elevate their privileges, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information and systems.

Code Snippet

Though we don't have an exact code snippet of the exploit, the following pseudo-code demonstrates the high-level structure of an attack on the affected firmware:

// The attacker obtains local access to the targeted system
if (localAccessGranted()) {
    // Find the manageability module in the affected Intel Ethernet Adapter
    int vulnerability_address = find_vulnerable_module();
    if (vulnerability_address) {
        // Inject the malicious payload exploiting CVE-2021-33157
        int success = inject_payload(vulnerability_address);
        // Payload execution and privilege escalation
        if (success) {
            escalate_privileges();
        }
    }
}

Here are some original references that provide more information about CVE-2021-33157

1. Intel's official vulnerability advisory

2. National Vulnerability Database (NVD) Entry

Mitigation

To mitigate CVE-2021-33157, it is essential to update the firmware of the affected Intel(R) Ethernet Adapters and Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225 devices. Intel has released firmware updates addressing this vulnerability, which can be found in their official security advisory linked above.

Conclusion

CVE-2021-33157 poses a significant risk to the security of targeted systems possessing the affected Intel(R) Ethernet Adapters and Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225 devices. It is vital to take prompt action and apply the necessary firmware updates to shield your systems from escalation of privilege attacks. Stay informed and maintain a strong security posture to safeguard your digital assets and information.

Timeline

Published on: 02/23/2024 21:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 05/16/2024 21:15:48 UTC