Insecure default variable initialization in Intel products - CVE-2021-0144

Vulnerability identifier: #VU54833

CSH Severity: Low

CVSS v4: 8.5 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]

CVE-ID: CVE-2021-0144

CWE-ID: CWE-453

Exploitation vector: Local access

Exploit availability: No public exploit available

The vulnerability allows a local user to escalate privileges on the system.

The vulnerability exists due to insecure default variable initialization for the Intel BSSA DFT feature. A local user can run a specially crafted program to execute arbitrary code on the system with elevated privileges.

2nd Generation Intel Xeon Scalable Processors
Intel Core X-series Processors
Intel Xeon W Processors
Intel Xeon D Processors
Intel Xeon Processor E5 v3 Family
Intel Xeon Processor E5 v4 Family
VEP4600-16 Core
VEP4600-8 Core
VEP4600-4 Core
Intel Xeon Scalable Processors
IBM Cloud Pak System

Install updates from vendor's website.

VEP4600-16 Core - update to UFW-3.7
VEP4600-8 Core - update to UFW-3.7
VEP4600-4 Core - update to UFW-3.7

• https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00525.html

• Privilege escalation in Intel BSSA DFT feature
• Privilege escalation in IBM Cloud Pak System
• Privilege escalation in Dell Networking