Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in Intel Microcode Packages
Summary
UBUNTU-CVE-2022-21216: Insufficient granularity of access control in out-of-band management in some Intel(R) Atom and Intel Xeon Scalable Processors may allow a privileged user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via adjacent network... Affects intel-microcode versions 1.20130906.1ubuntu2 – 3.20210608.0ubuntu0.14.04.1+esm1. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
Intel Microcode is a critical component that provides updates to the processor's firmware, enhancing performance and security. It is essential for maintaining system stability and security across various Ubuntu LTS versions. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of the Intel Microcode package, potentially allowing unauthorized access and privilege escalation.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2022-21216, arises from insufficient granularity of access control in out-of-band management for certain Intel Atom and Intel Xeon Scalable Processors. This flaw could enable a privileged user to escalate their privileges via adjacent network access, leading to unauthorized actions within the system. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 6.8, indicating a medium severity level.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
Currently, no specific workarounds are provided for this vulnerability. Users are encouraged to apply the available patches as soon as possible to mitigate the risk.
Conclusion
The CVE-2022-21216 vulnerability in Intel Microcode poses a significant risk of privilege escalation on affected Ubuntu systems. Users are strongly advised to update their packages to the latest patched versions to mitigate this risk. Regular monitoring and updates are essential for maintaining system security.
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FAQ
CVE-2022-21216 is a vulnerability in Intel Microcode that allows for potential privilege escalation due to insufficient access control.
The vulnerability affects Intel Microcode packages on various Ubuntu LTS versions, including 14.04, 16.04, 18.04, 20.04, and 22.04.
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The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 6.8, indicating a medium severity level.
You can update your Intel Microcode package using the commands: sudo apt update and sudo apt install intel-microcode. Ensure you are installing the latest version available for your Ubuntu distribution.
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