CVE-2022-21205 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Pro Edition versions prior to 21.3, specifically within the DSP Builder Pro component. The vulnerability arises from improper restriction of XML External Entity (XXE) references, classified under CWE-611. XXE vulnerabilities occur when XML parsers process external entity references without proper validation or restriction, allowing attackers to read arbitrary files or internal resources. In this case, an unauthenticated attacker can exploit the vulnerability remotely over the network without requiring user interaction or privileges. Successful exploitation can lead to significant information disclosure, potentially exposing sensitive design data, intellectual property, or configuration details embedded within the Quartus environment. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 reflects the high confidentiality impact, network attack vector, no required privileges, and no user interaction, but no impact on integrity or availability. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a serious concern for organizations using affected versions of Intel Quartus Prime Pro Edition, especially those involved in FPGA design and development where confidentiality of design files is critical.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-21205 can be substantial, particularly for companies in sectors such as telecommunications, aerospace, automotive, and defense that rely heavily on FPGA designs created with Intel Quartus Prime Pro Edition. Disclosure of sensitive design data could lead to intellectual property theft, competitive disadvantage, or exposure of proprietary algorithms. This could also facilitate further targeted attacks if attackers gain insights into the internal architecture or security mechanisms of critical systems. Since the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication, attackers could leverage it to access confidential information from development environments exposed to untrusted networks or insufficiently segmented internal networks. The breach of confidentiality could also have regulatory implications under GDPR if personal data or sensitive information is indirectly exposed through design metadata or related files. Overall, the vulnerability poses a risk to the confidentiality of critical design assets and could undermine trust in secure hardware development processes.

To mitigate this vulnerability, affected organizations should upgrade Intel Quartus Prime Pro Edition to version 21.3 or later, where the issue has been addressed. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, organizations should restrict network access to systems running the vulnerable software by implementing strict firewall rules and network segmentation to limit exposure to untrusted networks. Additionally, disabling or restricting the use of DSP Builder Pro features that process XML inputs from untrusted sources can reduce risk. Monitoring network traffic for unusual XML parsing activity and employing intrusion detection systems with signatures for XXE attacks may help detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct security reviews of their FPGA development environments to ensure sensitive design files are stored securely and access is tightly controlled. Finally, educating development teams about the risks of XXE vulnerabilities and safe XML handling practices can help prevent similar issues in the future.