In June 2022, Intel published a security advisory (INTEL-SA-00704) regarding a critical vulnerability—CVE-2022-30542. This flaw affects several popular server boards: Intel® Server Board S260WF, Intel® Server System R100WF, and Intel® Server System R200WF, with firmware versions prior to R02.01.0014.

In this post, we'll break down what this CVE is, why it matters, how it is exploited, and what you can do to protect your infrastructure.

What Is the Vulnerability?

CVE-2022-30542 is described as "improper input validation in the firmware for some Intel® Server Boards." In plain language: the server's baseboard management controller (BMC) firmware did not correctly validate certain inputs coming from users—specifically, privileged local users. This oversight could allow attackers with local (but not root) access to escalate their privileges and potentially take full control of the affected system.

Summary Table

| Impact         | Attack Vector  | Affected Hardware     | Fixed Version        |
|----------------|---------------|-----------------------|----------------------|
| Privilege Esc. | Local         | S260WF, R100WF, R200WF | R02.01.0014        |

How Does the Exploit Work?

When firmware does not properly check what a user is allowed to do, it might let users send malicious input—such as unexpected values or buffer overflows—to gain higher privileges. In this CVE, privileged users *with local access* (e.g., standard sysadmins or script operators) could exploit this weak input validation.

The most likely vector is via misconfigured or poorly validated parameters to internal firmware commands, possibly made available via BMC or other out-of-band (OOB) management channels. Exploit code may target interfaces exposed via local shell or special drivers that pass commands to the BMC.

> Note: This is *not* a remote exploit and does not grant unauthenticated attackers access; it's a _post-intrusion escalation_ flaw.

Exploit Example (Hypothetical)

Intel has not released detailed exploit code, following responsible disclosure. However, a common pattern in such vulnerabilities involves abusing system interfaces that interact with the hardware—like /dev endpoints or custom command utilities.

A pseudo-code example might look like this

#include <stdio.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <unistd.h>

// This is a *hypothetical* example; real devices and command 
// formats may differ.
int main() {
    int fd = open("/dev/intel_bmc", O_RDWR);
    if (fd < ) {
        perror("open");
        return 1;
    }

    char payload[256];
    memset(payload, 'A', sizeof(payload)); // Fill buffer with overlong input
    // In real attack, you'd fill payload with carefully crafted data 
    // for privilege escalation (e.g., ROP chain, return address override)
    
    // Hypothetical ioctl code that triggers the vulnerability
    int ret = ioctl(fd, xdeadbeef, payload); 
    
    if (ret < ) {
        perror("ioctl");
    } else {
        printf("Exploit attempt sent.\n");
    }
    close(fd);
    return ;
}

Key Points:

Who Is Affected?

You are at risk if you operate any of the following products, with firmware *before* version R02.01.0014:

Intel® Server System R200WF family

You can check your firmware version from the BMC console, BIOS setup, or via Intel's management tools.

How Dangerous Is It?

If a malicious actor gets even limited shell access (e.g., SSH, local login) to your server, they might leverage CVE-2022-30542 to become root (privilege escalation). From there, they can:

How To Fix It

Intel recommends updating immediately to firmware version R02.01.0014 or later. Links for downloads and guidance:

- S260WF Firmware Downloads
- Security Center: INTEL-SA-00704

*Always* backup your configuration before firmware updates.

> Tip: If you use automated deployment (PXE, iAMT), script the firmware checks and upgrades across your fleet.

References

- Intel Security Advisory: INTEL-SA-00704
- NIST NVD: CVE-2022-30542

Final Thoughts

CVE-2022-30542 is a textbook case of how a small firmware mistake can undermine your server security. Because the fix is straightforward—a firmware update—kicking the can down the road could leave your servers, and potentially your customers, at risk.  

Stay vigilant, patch early, and always prioritize firmware security in your regular maintenance cycles.


*Exclusively written for this post. For urgent help, always consult your hardware vendor or security team.*

Timeline

Published on: 11/11/2022 16:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/17/2022 15:11:00 UTC