CVE-2020-8714

Vulnerability

Improper authentication exists in some Intel(R) Server Boards, Server Systems, and Compute Modules prior to firmware version 1.59. The affected products are detailed in Intel Security Advisory SA-00384 [1]. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication checks in certain firmware components.

Exploitation

An authenticated user with local access to the affected system can exploit the improper authentication mechanism to elevate their privileges. The attacker must be able to log in to the system or have local access to execute code. The exact exploitation sequence is not publicly detailed, but it involves bypassing authentication controls to gain higher permissions [1].

Impact

Successful exploitation allows an attacker to escalate privileges, potentially gaining administrative or system-level access. This could lead to full control of the server, including data exfiltration, modification, or denial of service [1].

Mitigation

Intel has released firmware version 1.59 to address this vulnerability. Affected users should apply the update from their system vendor. No workarounds are mentioned; updating to the fixed version is the recommended action [1].