CVE-2022-24382 is a vulnerability identified in the firmware of certain Intel(R) NUC (Next Unit of Computing) devices. The core issue arises from improper input validation within the firmware, which can be exploited by a privileged local user to escalate their privileges further on the affected system. Specifically, this flaw allows a user who already has some level of privilege (local access with elevated rights) to potentially gain higher-level privileges, compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-20, which relates to improper input validation, indicating that the firmware does not adequately verify or sanitize inputs, leading to the escalation path. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.7, reflecting a medium severity level, with the vector indicating that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), high privileges required (PR:H), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability all at a high level (C:H/I:H/A:H). There are no known exploits in the wild as of the published date, and no patches are explicitly linked in the provided information, suggesting that mitigation may require vendor firmware updates or other controls. Intel NUCs are compact, high-performance mini-PCs widely used in various environments including enterprise, industrial, and personal computing. The vulnerability's exploitation requires local privileged access, which limits remote exploitation but still poses a significant risk in environments where multiple users have elevated access or where attackers can gain such access through other means.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-24382 can be significant, especially in sectors relying on Intel NUC devices for edge computing, digital signage, industrial control, or compact workstation deployments. Since the vulnerability allows privilege escalation from an already privileged user, it can facilitate lateral movement within networks, unauthorized access to sensitive data, and potential disruption of critical services. Confidentiality is at risk as attackers could access sensitive information; integrity could be compromised through unauthorized changes to system configurations or software; and availability could be affected if attackers disrupt device operations. The risk is heightened in multi-user environments or where physical or local access controls are weak. Given that many European organizations emphasize strict data protection and regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR), exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to data breaches and associated legal and reputational consequences. However, the requirement for local privileged access reduces the likelihood of widespread remote attacks but does not eliminate insider threats or attacks leveraging initial footholds.

To mitigate CVE-2022-24382 effectively, European organizations should: 1) Identify and inventory all Intel NUC devices in their environment to understand exposure. 2) Monitor Intel’s official channels for firmware updates addressing this vulnerability and apply patches promptly once available. 3) Enforce strict access controls to limit the number of users with privileged local access on affected devices, including using role-based access controls and just-in-time privilege elevation where possible. 4) Implement strong physical security measures to prevent unauthorized local access to devices. 5) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for unusual privilege escalation activities on Intel NUCs. 6) Conduct regular audits and reviews of user privileges and system logs to detect potential misuse. 7) Where feasible, segment networks to isolate Intel NUCs from critical infrastructure to limit lateral movement if compromise occurs. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific context of local privileged access and firmware-level vulnerabilities in Intel NUCs.