CVE-2022-38136

Vulnerability

An uncontrolled search path vulnerability exists in the Intel(R) oneAPI DPC++/C++ Compiler for Windows and Intel Fortran Compiler for Windows before version 2022.2.1 for some Intel(R) oneAPI Toolkits before version 2022.3.1. The bug resides in how these compilers locate and load dynamic libraries, potentially allowing an attacker to place a malicious DLL in a search path that the compiler follows before the intended system path [1].

Exploitation

An attacker must have local access to the system and be authenticated as a user. The exploitation does not require any special privileges beyond the ability to write a malicious DLL to a location that appears in the compiler's DLL search order (such as the current working directory or a user-writable path). When a legitimate user or automated process invokes the vulnerable compiler from a directory containing the attacker's DLL, the compiler loads the malicious code instead of the intended library [1].

Impact

Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the user running the compiler. This can lead to escalation of privilege, as the attacker's code may inherit the compiler's access rights and perform actions such as installing programs, viewing or modifying data, or creating new accounts with full user rights [1].

Mitigation

Intel released fixed versions in the Intel(R) oneAPI DPC++/C++ Compiler for Windows and Intel Fortran Compiler for Windows as part of Intel(R) oneAPI Toolkits version 2022.3.1. Users should update to these versions or later. No workaround is provided; Intel recommends applying the update as the primary mitigation [1].