CVE-2021-44454 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Pro Edition versions prior to 21.3. The vulnerability arises due to improper input validation within a third-party component integrated into the software. Intel Quartus Prime Pro Edition is a development tool used primarily for FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) design and programming. The flaw allows an authenticated local user with limited privileges to potentially escalate their privileges on the affected system. Specifically, the vulnerability enables an attacker who already has some level of access (local authenticated user) to exploit improper input validation mechanisms to gain higher privileges, potentially up to administrative or system-level control. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects a high severity, with the vector indicating that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and results in high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20, which relates to improper input validation, a common root cause for many security issues. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches are linked in the provided data, though it is implied that upgrading to version 21.3 or later would remediate the issue. The vulnerability is significant because it can allow an attacker to bypass normal privilege restrictions, potentially leading to full system compromise or unauthorized access to sensitive design data and intellectual property within FPGA development environments.

For European organizations, especially those involved in hardware design, telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, and defense sectors where FPGA development is critical, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized modification or theft of proprietary FPGA designs, intellectual property theft, or sabotage of hardware development processes. Given the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, attackers could disrupt critical development workflows or implant malicious logic into FPGA designs, which could have downstream effects on products and systems relying on those FPGAs. The requirement for local authenticated access somewhat limits the attack surface; however, insider threats or compromised user accounts could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and gain broader control. This is particularly concerning in environments with shared development workstations or insufficient endpoint security controls. Additionally, the lack of known exploits in the wild does not diminish the risk, as the vulnerability is well-documented and could be targeted by advanced persistent threat (APT) groups or industrial espionage actors prevalent in Europe.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading Intel Quartus Prime Pro Edition to version 21.3 or later, where this vulnerability is addressed. In the absence of immediate patching, organizations should implement strict access controls to limit local authenticated access to trusted personnel only. Employing endpoint protection solutions that monitor for unusual privilege escalation attempts can help detect exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and the use of hardened development environments can reduce the risk of lateral movement if an attacker gains initial access. Additionally, enforcing the principle of least privilege for user accounts on development machines and regularly auditing user permissions will minimize the potential for exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and integrity monitoring on systems running Quartus Prime Pro Edition to detect unauthorized changes. Finally, educating users about the risks of privilege escalation and monitoring logs for suspicious activity related to the software can provide early warning signs of exploitation attempts.