CVE-2021-0107 is a vulnerability identified in the firmware of certain Intel(R) processors, characterized by an unchecked return value issue. This flaw allows a privileged local user to potentially escalate their privileges further on the affected system. The vulnerability arises due to improper handling of return values in the processor firmware, which can be exploited to bypass security controls and gain higher-level access than originally permitted. The vulnerability requires local access and a user with already elevated privileges (high privileges) to exploit it, meaning it is not exploitable remotely or by unprivileged users. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.7, indicating a medium severity level, with impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability all rated as high if exploited. The attack vector is local, with low attack complexity, and no user interaction is required beyond the attacker having privileged access. No known exploits have been reported in the wild to date. The vulnerability is related to CWE-252, which concerns unchecked return values, a common programming error that can lead to security issues if error conditions are not properly handled. Intel processors affected by this vulnerability are widely used in enterprise and consumer environments, making the potential impact significant if exploited. However, the requirement for local privileged access limits the scope of exploitation primarily to insiders or attackers who have already compromised a system to some extent.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2021-0107 could be significant in environments where Intel processors are prevalent, which is the majority of enterprise and data center hardware. Since the vulnerability allows privilege escalation from an already privileged user, it could be leveraged by malicious insiders or attackers who have gained initial access through other means to deepen their control over critical systems. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of services, or further lateral movement within networks. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems could all be compromised if exploited. Given the local access requirement, organizations with strong perimeter defenses but weaker internal access controls or insufficient monitoring of privileged accounts may be at higher risk. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk, especially as threat actors may develop exploits over time. European organizations in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, which rely heavily on Intel-based servers and workstations, should consider this vulnerability seriously due to the potential for insider threats and targeted attacks.

To mitigate CVE-2021-0107, European organizations should prioritize the following specific actions: 1) Apply all available firmware and microcode updates from Intel and system vendors as soon as they are released, as these will address the unchecked return value issue. 2) Implement strict access controls and monitoring for privileged accounts to detect and prevent misuse or unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. 3) Employ robust endpoint security solutions that can detect anomalous behavior indicative of privilege escalation. 4) Conduct regular audits of local user privileges and remove unnecessary elevated rights to minimize the attack surface. 5) Use hardware-based security features such as Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) and Intel Software Guard Extensions (SGX) where applicable to add layers of protection. 6) Educate system administrators and security teams about the vulnerability and the importance of limiting local privileged access. 7) Incorporate this vulnerability into risk assessments and incident response plans to ensure preparedness in case of exploitation attempts. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on firmware patching, privileged access management, and leveraging hardware security capabilities specific to Intel processors.