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CVE-2021-0189: escalation of privilege in Intel(R) Processors

High
VulnerabilityCVE-2021-0189cvecve-2021-0189
Published: Thu May 12 2022 (05/12/2022, 16:36:11 UTC)
Source: CVE
Vendor/Project: n/a
Product: Intel(R) Processors

Description

Use of out-of-range pointer offset in the BIOS firmware for some Intel(R) Processors may allow a privileged user to potentially enable aescalation of privilege via local access.

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 07/03/2025, 10:28:25 UTC

Technical Analysis

CVE-2021-0189 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting certain Intel processors, specifically related to the BIOS firmware. The root cause is an out-of-range pointer offset used within the BIOS firmware, which can be exploited by a privileged local user to escalate their privileges further. This vulnerability falls under CWE-119, indicating a classic buffer or memory bounds issue, which can lead to memory corruption. The vulnerability requires local access and a user with some level of privilege (PR:L), but does not require user interaction (UI:N). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high). The scope is unchanged, meaning the vulnerability affects the same security scope as the vulnerable component. Exploitation could allow an attacker with limited local privileges to gain higher privileges, potentially full administrative or kernel-level control, by manipulating BIOS firmware behavior. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, system compromise, or persistent malware installation at a low level. No known exploits in the wild have been reported yet, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and documented. The lack of patch links suggests that mitigation depends on firmware updates from hardware vendors or system manufacturers. Intel processors are widely deployed in enterprise and consumer environments, making this a significant concern for organizations relying on affected hardware. The vulnerability requires local access, so remote exploitation is not feasible without prior compromise.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2021-0189 can be substantial, especially in sectors with high reliance on Intel-based infrastructure such as finance, government, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure. An attacker with local access could escalate privileges to gain control over systems, potentially leading to data breaches, disruption of services, or installation of persistent threats that evade detection. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means sensitive data could be exposed or altered, and critical systems could be destabilized. Given the prevalence of Intel processors in European corporate and governmental IT environments, the risk extends across multiple industries. Additionally, organizations with strict regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR) must consider the compliance implications of such vulnerabilities. The local access requirement somewhat limits the attack surface, but insider threats or attackers who have already gained footholds could leverage this vulnerability to deepen their control and evade remediation efforts.

Mitigation Recommendations

1. Immediate mitigation involves applying firmware updates and BIOS patches provided by Intel or system manufacturers as soon as they become available. Organizations should engage with their hardware vendors to confirm patch availability and deployment timelines. 2. Restrict local access to critical systems by enforcing strict physical security controls and limiting administrative privileges to trusted personnel only. 3. Implement robust endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting unusual privilege escalation attempts and BIOS-level tampering. 4. Employ hardware-based security features such as Intel Boot Guard and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) to protect BIOS integrity and prevent unauthorized firmware modifications. 5. Regularly audit and monitor user privileges and local access logs to detect potential misuse or suspicious activities. 6. Incorporate this vulnerability into risk assessments and incident response plans to ensure readiness in case of exploitation. 7. Educate IT staff and system administrators about the vulnerability and the importance of timely patching and access controls.

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Technical Details

Data Version
5.1
Assigner Short Name
intel
Date Reserved
2020-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
Cisa Enriched
true
Cvss Version
3.1
State
PUBLISHED

Threat ID: 682d981ec4522896dcbdba06

Added to database: 5/21/2025, 9:08:46 AM

Last enriched: 7/3/2025, 10:28:25 AM

Last updated: 7/11/2025, 8:11:09 AM

Views: 7

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