CVE-2022-30771 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the PnpSmm initialization function within the System Management Mode (SMM) of certain firmware implementations. Specifically, the flaw arises from improper handling during the initialization phase of PnpSmm, which can lead to corruption of the System Management RAM (SMRAM) when subsequent Plug and Play (PNP) System Management Interrupt (SMI) functions are invoked. SMRAM is a highly privileged memory region used by the CPU when operating in SMM, a special operating mode designed for low-level system management tasks such as power management and hardware control. Corruption of SMRAM can lead to severe consequences including privilege escalation, arbitrary code execution at the highest privilege level, and compromise of system integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability was discovered by Insyde engineering during a security review and affects multiple kernel versions, with fixes released for Kernel 5.1 (version 05.17.25), 5.2 (05.27.25), 5.3 (05.36.25), 5.4 (05.44.25), and 5.5 (05.52.25). The CVSS v3.1 score is 8.2, indicating a high severity level, with an attack vector classified as local (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L), but high privileges (PR:H) and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is changed (S:C), and the impact is high on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), which typically involves writing data outside the intended buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption. No known exploits are reported in the wild as of the publication date. The vulnerability primarily affects firmware components related to PnpSmm and SMRAM, which are critical for secure system operation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-30771 can be significant, especially for those relying on affected hardware platforms and firmware versions that have not been patched. Since SMRAM corruption can lead to full system compromise at the highest privilege level, attackers with local access could potentially bypass security controls, extract sensitive information, implant persistent malware, or disrupt critical system functions. This is particularly concerning for sectors with high security requirements such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure. The requirement for high privileges to exploit the vulnerability somewhat limits the attack surface to insiders or attackers who have already gained some level of access, but the absence of user interaction and the potential for privilege escalation make it a serious threat. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against European organizations with valuable intellectual property or sensitive data. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests that proactive patching can effectively mitigate risk before widespread exploitation occurs.

1. Immediate firmware updates: Organizations should prioritize applying the firmware patches released by vendors corresponding to the kernel versions listed (e.g., Kernel 5.1 version 05.17.25 and later). Coordination with hardware and firmware vendors is essential to obtain and deploy these updates. 2. Restrict local access: Since the attack vector is local and requires high privileges, enforcing strict access controls on systems, including limiting administrative access and using strong authentication mechanisms, can reduce the risk of exploitation. 3. Monitor for anomalous SMM activity: Implement monitoring solutions capable of detecting unusual SMI invocations or SMRAM access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Employ hardware-based security features: Utilize Trusted Platform Module (TPM), Intel Boot Guard, or equivalent technologies to ensure firmware integrity and prevent unauthorized firmware modifications. 5. Conduct regular security audits: Regularly review system firmware versions and configurations to ensure compliance with security policies and timely patching. 6. Network segmentation and endpoint protection: Limit the ability of attackers to gain local access by segmenting critical systems and deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect lateral movement and privilege escalation attempts.