CVE-2024-28047 is a vulnerability identified in the UEFI firmware of certain Intel processors, stemming from improper input validation. UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a critical low-level software interface between the operating system and platform firmware, responsible for initializing hardware during the boot process. This vulnerability allows a privileged local user—such as an administrator or someone with elevated rights—to potentially trigger information disclosure by exploiting the flawed input validation logic. The flaw does not require user interaction but does require high privileges and local access, limiting the attack surface to insiders or attackers who have already compromised user credentials or physical access. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality by potentially exposing sensitive data stored or processed at the firmware level, which could include cryptographic keys, system configuration, or other protected information. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:N/SA:N) reflects that the attack requires local access, high attack complexity, privileges, and results in high confidentiality impact, with no effect on integrity or availability. No public exploits have been reported, and Intel or OEMs have yet to release patches, but affected organizations should monitor for updates. The vulnerability is significant because UEFI firmware is foundational to system security, and compromise or data leakage at this level can undermine overall system trustworthiness.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-28047 is the potential exposure of sensitive information at the firmware level, which could lead to further compromise of systems or intellectual property theft. Organizations in sectors with high security requirements—such as government, finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure—are particularly at risk if attackers gain privileged local access. The vulnerability could facilitate lateral movement or privilege escalation in targeted attacks, especially in environments where endpoint security is critical. Since exploitation requires high privileges and local access, remote attackers are unlikely to exploit this directly, but insider threats or attackers who have already breached perimeter defenses could leverage this flaw. The confidentiality breach could undermine trust in affected systems and complicate compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR if sensitive personal or corporate data is exposed. The medium severity rating suggests that while the threat is serious, it is not easily exploitable at scale without prior access.

To mitigate CVE-2024-28047, European organizations should: 1) Monitor Intel and OEM advisories closely for firmware updates addressing this vulnerability and apply patches promptly once available. 2) Restrict privileged local access strictly, enforcing the principle of least privilege to reduce the risk of insider exploitation. 3) Implement robust endpoint security solutions that detect and prevent unauthorized privilege escalation or suspicious local activity. 4) Use hardware-based security features such as Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) and secure boot to enhance firmware integrity. 5) Conduct regular audits of privileged accounts and access logs to detect anomalous behavior. 6) Educate system administrators and users with elevated privileges about the risks and signs of exploitation. 7) Consider network segmentation to limit the spread of an attacker who gains local access. 8) Employ firmware integrity verification tools where available to detect unauthorized modifications. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling privileged access and monitoring firmware integrity in addition to patching.