Appsecure logo

CVE-2022-43456: Medium Vulnerability in Intel Rapid Storage Technology

CVE-2022-43456 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Intel's Rapid Storage Technology software that allows potential escalation of privilege through local access. Organizations should prioritize remediation to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.

MEDIUMCVSS 6.7 · Published August 11, 2023

Not a customer? See how AppSecure simulates real world attacks to protect your infrastructure.

Speak to Experts

CVE-2022-43456 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) software. This vulnerability allows an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access. The severity level of 6.7 indicates that while it is not critical, it still poses a significant risk to organizations utilizing affected versions of the software. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to address this vulnerability.

The vulnerability exists in versions prior to 16.8.5.1014.5, 17.11.3.1010.2, 18.7.6.1011.2, and 19.5.2.1049.5. With a CVSS score of 6.7, it falls within the medium severity category, indicating that attackers may exploit this vulnerability under certain conditions. Given the potential for privilege escalation, organizations need to assess their exposure and implement necessary updates.

Intel published this vulnerability on August 11, 2023, and it has been classified as modified. The attack vector is local, and it requires low privileges and user interaction to exploit. Organizations should be aware of the risks associated with outdated versions of Intel RST software, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access.

To mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, organizations must address it in their priority patch cycle. Remediation steps include upgrading to the latest versions of Intel RST software. The urgency for defenders is high, given the potential impact on system integrity and confidentiality.

For ongoing protection, organizations can benefit from security assessments and penetration testing services that can help identify vulnerabilities in their systems. Regular updates and vulnerability management programs are crucial for maintaining security posture.

Further insights into vulnerability management can be found in the following resources.

Vulnerability Details

The official description of CVE-2022-43456 states that it involves an uncontrolled search path in some Intel RST software versions prior to specified patches. The CWE classifications associated with this vulnerability are CWE-426 and CWE-427, indicating potential improper control of a file's path and reliance on untrusted search path, respectively.

With a CVSS score of 6.7, the vulnerability's impacts include high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. The attack complexity is classified as high, requiring a determined attacker to exploit the vulnerability effectively.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of CVE-2022-43456 stems from an uncontrolled search path that allows an attacker to escalate privileges within the system. The attack vector is local, meaning that an attacker must have physical or authorized access to the system to exploit the vulnerability. The complexity of the attack is high, as it requires low privileges and user interaction, which may limit the vulnerability's exploitation potential.

Confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all rated as high, indicating that successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access and modification of sensitive data, as well as disruptions to system availability.

Risk & Impact Analysis

Risk to organizations includes potential privilege escalation leading to unauthorized access to sensitive resources. The implications of this vulnerability may vary depending on the environment, but the ability to escalate privileges raises significant security concerns.

Organizations using vulnerable versions of Intel RST software should assess their risk exposure, as the blast radius could extend to any system where this software is deployed. Given the high impact potential, it is essential to address this vulnerability urgently.

The CVSS score of 6.7 indicates a medium severity level, urging organizations to prioritize this vulnerability in their patch management processes.

Exploitation Status

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

No

Public PoC

No

Actively Exploited

No

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

Affected versions of Intel Rapid Storage Technology include all versions prior to 16.8.5.1014.5, 17.11.3.1010.2, 18.7.6.1011.2, and 19.5.2.1049.5. Organizations should ensure they upgrade to these versions or later to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.

Mitigation & Remediation

To remediate this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade their Intel Rapid Storage Technology software to the latest versions as specified. If a patch is unavailable, organizations should consider implementing configuration hardening and access controls to minimize exposure.

For further assistance, organizations can explore penetration testing services to identify potential vulnerabilities in their systems.

Detection Guidance

Organizations should monitor logs for unusual access patterns and behavioral anomalies that may indicate an attempt to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, network signatures that correspond to known exploit techniques should be tracked to enhance detection capabilities.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

CVE-2022-43456 represents a significant vulnerability in Intel's RST software that underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software. As organizations increasingly rely on such technologies, understanding the implications of vulnerabilities like this one is crucial.

The lack of known exploits as of now suggests that organizations have a window to proactively address this vulnerability. Security teams should consider adopting a comprehensive penetration testing methodology as part of their security strategy to uncover similar weaknesses.

Furthermore, understanding the potential for privilege escalation through vulnerabilities should guide organizations to strengthen their access controls and user privilege management practices. Engaging in regular security assessments can help identify and mitigate such vulnerabilities proactively.

For more insights on risk management, organizations can review our comprehensive guide on vulnerability management programs to effectively address security risks.

Finally, organizations should stay informed about trends in vulnerabilities and attacks to better prepare for evolving threats. Engaging with industry resources and participating in security communities can enhance an organization’s security posture.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

Latest CVEs. Recently published vulnerabilities from the NVD database.

View all vulnerabilities
CVE IDSeverity
CVE-2025-65418HIGH
CVE-2025-65417MEDIUM
CVE-2025-65416MEDIUM
CVE-2025-65415MEDIUM
CVE-2025-61314HIGH

Protect Your Business with Hacker-Focused Approach.