CVE-2021-33107 is a medium severity vulnerability affecting Intel(R) Active Management Technology (AMT) SDK versions prior to 16.0.3, Intel(R) Setup and Configuration Software (SCS) versions before 12.2, and Intel(R) Management Engine BIOS Extension (MEBx) versions before 11.0.0.0012, 12.0.0.0011, 14.0.0.0004, and 15.0.0.0004. The vulnerability arises from insufficient protection of credentials during USB provisioning processes. Specifically, the credentials used to configure or provision Intel AMT via USB are not adequately safeguarded, allowing an unauthenticated attacker with physical access to the device to potentially extract sensitive information. This information disclosure does not require user interaction or prior authentication, but it does require physical access to the affected hardware. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-522, which relates to insufficiently protected credentials. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.6, reflecting a medium severity level, with the attack vector being physical (AV:P), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is primarily on confidentiality, with no direct impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the published date. The vulnerability affects systems that utilize Intel AMT SDK, SCS, and MEBx components for remote management and provisioning, which are commonly found in enterprise-grade hardware platforms supporting Intel vPro technology. Since the flaw involves physical access exploitation, it is particularly relevant in environments where devices may be left unattended or accessible to unauthorized personnel.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily in scenarios where devices equipped with affected Intel AMT components are physically accessible to attackers. The potential impact includes unauthorized disclosure of sensitive provisioning credentials, which could facilitate further attacks such as unauthorized remote management access or lateral movement within corporate networks. Confidentiality breaches could lead to exposure of corporate secrets, user credentials, or configuration data. Sectors with high-value targets such as finance, government, critical infrastructure, and large enterprises using Intel vPro-enabled devices are at greater risk. The physical access requirement limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk in environments with shared or poorly secured physical access, such as offices, data centers, or repair facilities. Additionally, the vulnerability could undermine trust in hardware-based management solutions, complicating incident response and forensic investigations. Given the widespread use of Intel AMT in European corporate and governmental IT infrastructure, the vulnerability could have broad implications if exploited, especially in organizations with less stringent physical security controls.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Ensure all affected Intel AMT SDK, SCS, and MEBx components are updated to versions 16.0.3, 12.2, and the respective MEBx versions or later that contain the fix. 2) Enforce strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized physical access to devices, including secure storage, access logging, and surveillance in sensitive areas. 3) Disable USB provisioning if not required or restrict USB port access via hardware or BIOS settings to prevent unauthorized USB device connections. 4) Implement strong authentication and access control policies for Intel AMT management interfaces to reduce risk if credentials are compromised. 5) Regularly audit and monitor Intel AMT configurations and logs for suspicious activity indicative of unauthorized provisioning attempts. 6) Educate IT and security personnel about the risks associated with physical access to management interfaces and the importance of patching. 7) Coordinate with hardware vendors and service providers to ensure secure provisioning processes and firmware updates are applied promptly. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on physical security, configuration hardening, and operational controls specific to Intel AMT environments.