CVE-2022-0002: information disclosure in Intel(R) Processors
Non-transparent sharing of branch predictor within a context in some Intel(R) Processors may allow an authorized user to potentially enable information disclosure via local access.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2022-0002 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting certain Intel processors, involving non-transparent sharing of the branch predictor within a context. The branch predictor is a CPU component used to improve performance by guessing the direction of branches in code execution. In this vulnerability, the sharing of the branch predictor state between different processes or threads within the same authorized user context can lead to information disclosure. Specifically, an authorized local user with limited privileges (low privileges) can exploit this behavior to infer sensitive information from other processes running on the same processor. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and does not impact integrity or availability, but it can compromise confidentiality by leaking data through side-channel analysis of the branch predictor state. The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.5 (medium), reflecting the local attack vector, low attack complexity, and partial privileges required. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. No known exploits in the wild have been reported, and no specific patches or mitigations are listed in the provided data, though Intel likely has advisories or microcode updates addressing this issue. This vulnerability is part of a class of side-channel attacks exploiting microarchitectural features of modern CPUs, similar in nature to Spectre-class vulnerabilities, but with a narrower scope and impact.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2022-0002 is the potential leakage of sensitive information within multi-tenant environments or shared systems where multiple users or processes run concurrently on Intel processors. This is particularly relevant for cloud service providers, data centers, and enterprises using virtualization or containerization on Intel hardware. Confidentiality breaches could expose intellectual property, personal data, or cryptographic keys, leading to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR and other data protection laws. Although the vulnerability requires local access and some privileges, insider threats or compromised accounts could exploit it to escalate information disclosure risks. The lack of impact on integrity and availability reduces the risk of service disruption, but the confidentiality risk remains significant for sensitive environments. Organizations handling critical infrastructure, financial data, or government information in Europe must consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments and security controls.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2022-0002, European organizations should: 1) Apply all relevant Intel microcode updates and operating system patches as soon as they become available, as these typically include fixes or mitigations for microarchitectural side-channel vulnerabilities. 2) Enforce strict access controls and least privilege principles to limit the number of users with local access or elevated privileges on affected systems. 3) Use virtualization and containerization isolation best practices to minimize cross-tenant or cross-process information leakage risks. 4) Monitor for unusual local activity that could indicate attempts to exploit side-channel vulnerabilities. 5) Consider deploying hardware-based security features such as Intel Software Guard Extensions (SGX) or Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) that can provide additional isolation. 6) Review and update security policies to address insider threat risks and ensure compliance with data protection regulations. 7) Engage with hardware and software vendors for guidance and updates related to this vulnerability.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Ireland
CVE-2022-0002: information disclosure in Intel(R) Processors
Description
Non-transparent sharing of branch predictor within a context in some Intel(R) Processors may allow an authorized user to potentially enable information disclosure via local access.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2022-0002 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting certain Intel processors, involving non-transparent sharing of the branch predictor within a context. The branch predictor is a CPU component used to improve performance by guessing the direction of branches in code execution. In this vulnerability, the sharing of the branch predictor state between different processes or threads within the same authorized user context can lead to information disclosure. Specifically, an authorized local user with limited privileges (low privileges) can exploit this behavior to infer sensitive information from other processes running on the same processor. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and does not impact integrity or availability, but it can compromise confidentiality by leaking data through side-channel analysis of the branch predictor state. The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.5 (medium), reflecting the local attack vector, low attack complexity, and partial privileges required. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. No known exploits in the wild have been reported, and no specific patches or mitigations are listed in the provided data, though Intel likely has advisories or microcode updates addressing this issue. This vulnerability is part of a class of side-channel attacks exploiting microarchitectural features of modern CPUs, similar in nature to Spectre-class vulnerabilities, but with a narrower scope and impact.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2022-0002 is the potential leakage of sensitive information within multi-tenant environments or shared systems where multiple users or processes run concurrently on Intel processors. This is particularly relevant for cloud service providers, data centers, and enterprises using virtualization or containerization on Intel hardware. Confidentiality breaches could expose intellectual property, personal data, or cryptographic keys, leading to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR and other data protection laws. Although the vulnerability requires local access and some privileges, insider threats or compromised accounts could exploit it to escalate information disclosure risks. The lack of impact on integrity and availability reduces the risk of service disruption, but the confidentiality risk remains significant for sensitive environments. Organizations handling critical infrastructure, financial data, or government information in Europe must consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments and security controls.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2022-0002, European organizations should: 1) Apply all relevant Intel microcode updates and operating system patches as soon as they become available, as these typically include fixes or mitigations for microarchitectural side-channel vulnerabilities. 2) Enforce strict access controls and least privilege principles to limit the number of users with local access or elevated privileges on affected systems. 3) Use virtualization and containerization isolation best practices to minimize cross-tenant or cross-process information leakage risks. 4) Monitor for unusual local activity that could indicate attempts to exploit side-channel vulnerabilities. 5) Consider deploying hardware-based security features such as Intel Software Guard Extensions (SGX) or Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) that can provide additional isolation. 6) Review and update security policies to address insider threat risks and ensure compliance with data protection regulations. 7) Engage with hardware and software vendors for guidance and updates related to this vulnerability.
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Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- intel
- Date Reserved
- 2021-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Cisa Enriched
- true
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 682d981ec4522896dcbdbc4a
Added to database: 5/21/2025, 9:08:46 AM
Last enriched: 7/6/2025, 10:42:41 PM
Last updated: 7/27/2025, 12:56:35 AM
Views: 15
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