CVE-2022-35276 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A privilege escalation vulnerability in some Intel(R) NUC 8 Compute Elements BIOS firmware could allow a privileged user to escalate privileges via local access.

Understanding CVE-2022-35276

This section provides insights into the impact and technical details of CVE-2022-35276.

What is CVE-2022-35276?

The CVE-2022-35276 pertains to an improper access control issue in the BIOS firmware of Intel(R) NUC 8 Compute Elements before version CBWHL357.0096. This vulnerability may enable a privileged user to achieve an escalation of privilege through local access.

The Impact of CVE-2022-35276

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as HIGH, with a CVSS base score of 7.5. An attacker with local access could potentially exploit this flaw to escalate privileges, posing a significant security risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-35276

In this section, we delve into the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves improper access control in the BIOS firmware of Intel(R) NUC 8 Compute Elements. Specifically, versions before CBWHL357.0096 are susceptible, allowing a privileged user to exploit local access for privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected product is Intel(R) NUC 8 Compute Elements, specifically versions before CBWHL357.0096.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging local access, a privileged user could potentially exploit this vulnerability to escalate privileges on the affected systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2022-35276, immediate steps should be taken, and long-term security practices should be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to apply the necessary patches provided by Intel to address the vulnerability. Additionally, restricting physical access to the affected systems can help reduce the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust access controls, regularly updating firmware and BIOS, and monitoring privileged user activities can enhance the overall security posture of the systems.

Patching and Updates

It is crucial for users to regularly check for security updates from Intel and promptly apply them to ensure that the systems are protected against known vulnerabilities.