CVE-2022-21127 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting certain Intel processors. The flaw arises from incomplete cleanup during specific special register read operations. This vulnerability allows an authenticated local user to potentially cause information disclosure by accessing residual data left in processor registers. The issue is classified under CWE-459, which pertains to incomplete cleanup of sensitive data, leading to unintended information leakage. Exploitation requires local access with some level of privileges (low privileges), but no user interaction is needed. The vulnerability does not impact integrity or availability but poses a confidentiality risk by exposing sensitive information that should have been cleared from processor registers after use. Intel processors affected by this issue are not explicitly listed in the provided data, but references should be consulted for exact models and versions. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigation links are provided in the data, indicating that organizations should verify with Intel for updates. The CVSS v3.1 score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level due to the local attack vector and requirement for authenticated access, but high impact on confidentiality.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily threatens confidentiality of sensitive data processed on affected Intel processors. Organizations handling sensitive or regulated data, such as financial institutions, healthcare providers, and government agencies, could be at risk if attackers gain local access to systems. The vulnerability could be exploited by malicious insiders or attackers who have already compromised user accounts with low privileges. While it does not affect system integrity or availability, the leakage of confidential information could lead to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and reputational damage. The local access requirement limits remote exploitation, but in environments with shared access or insufficient endpoint security, the risk increases. Organizations relying heavily on Intel hardware for critical workloads should assess their exposure and prioritize mitigation to protect sensitive information.

1. Verify with Intel and system vendors for available firmware or microcode updates addressing CVE-2022-21127 and apply them promptly. 2. Restrict local access to systems with affected processors by enforcing strict access controls and monitoring user activities to prevent unauthorized or unnecessary access. 3. Implement endpoint security solutions that detect and prevent privilege escalation and unauthorized local access attempts. 4. Conduct regular audits of user privileges and remove unnecessary accounts or rights that could be exploited to gain local access. 5. Employ data encryption at rest and in use where possible to reduce the impact of any potential information disclosure. 6. Use hardware-based security features such as Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) or Software Guard Extensions (SGX) to isolate sensitive operations. 7. Educate users and administrators about the risks of local access vulnerabilities and enforce strong authentication mechanisms to reduce the likelihood of credential compromise.