CVE-2024-39279 is classified as a medium-severity vulnerability affecting UEFI firmware in some Intel processors. This vulnerability allows authenticated users to potentially enable denial of service via local access. With a CVSS score of 6.8, it poses a significant risk to systems that rely on affected Intel processors. Organizations must recognize the potential implications of this vulnerability on their operations.
The urgency for defenders is heightened due to the potential for local access exploitation. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate this risk. Although the vulnerability is currently awaiting analysis, early awareness can help in strategizing for potential remediation.
Risk to organizations includes potential denial of service, which could disrupt operations and affect service availability. It is essential for organizations to assess their exposure and take proactive measures to safeguard their environments.
As of now, there is no public exploit confirmed for CVE-2024-39279, nor is it included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, organizations should remain vigilant and monitor any updates regarding this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of CVE-2024-39279 states that "Insufficient granularity of access control in UEFI firmware in some Intel(R) processors may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable denial of service via local access." This vulnerability is classified under CWE-1220.
With a CVSS version 4.0 score of 6.8, the vulnerability presents a medium severity level. The attack vector is local, and it requires low complexity to exploit, with authenticated access needed. The availability impact is rated as high, while confidentiality and integrity impacts are none.
The vulnerability was published on February 12, 2025, and is currently awaiting further analysis. Organizations using affected Intel processors should stay informed about any patches or updates that may be released.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient granularity of access control mechanisms in UEFI firmware on certain Intel processors. As a result, an authenticated user can exploit this weakness to initiate denial-of-service attacks locally.
The attack vector is classified as local, meaning that the attacker must have physical access to the system. The attack complexity is low, as it does not require any sophisticated techniques or high levels of privileges beyond authenticated access.
User interaction is not required, which heightens the risk as unauthorized access can be achieved without the need for social engineering techniques. The availability impact is high, as successful exploitation can lead to significant downtime for affected systems.
Given the potential for high availability impact and the ease of exploitation, organizations must take immediate steps to assess their exposure to this vulnerability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with CVE-2024-39279 is significant, particularly for organizations that utilize Intel processors with UEFI firmware. The potential for denial of service can severely disrupt organizational operations, impacting availability and service delivery.
Organizations should recognize that the blast radius could extend beyond the initial point of exploitation, affecting interconnected systems and services. The urgency for remediation is underscored by the CVSS score of 6.8, which signifies a medium risk that should be prioritized in the patch cycle.
The fact that this vulnerability is not currently listed in the KEV catalog indicates that while it is not actively exploited in the wild, this status could change. Organizations should schedule remediation as soon as patches become available, considering the potential for rapid changes in exploitation status.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
As of now, specific affected versions of the Intel processors are not detailed. Organizations should assume that all versions of Intel processors with UEFI firmware prior to any upcoming patches are potentially vulnerable.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should monitor for firmware updates from Intel to address CVE-2024-39279. If a patch is available, it is crucial to apply it immediately. In the absence of a patch, consider the following workarounds:
1. Implement stricter access controls to limit authenticated user access to the system.
2. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify potential vulnerabilities in firmware.
3. Enhance monitoring for unusual activities on systems to detect potential exploitation attempts.
Continuous penetration testing can help validate the effectiveness of these mitigations.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor the following indicators to detect potential exploitation of CVE-2024-39279:
1. Log access attempts, particularly from authenticated users, to identify any unusual patterns.
2. Look for behavioral anomalies that may indicate unauthorized access or attempts to exploit vulnerabilities.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-39279 lies in the ongoing challenges of securing firmware across various platforms. As vulnerabilities in UEFI firmware can often lead to severe availability impacts, organizations must adopt a proactive approach to security.
The pattern of insufficient access control highlights the need for rigorous security testing and validation.
Security teams should leverage insights from this vulnerability to enhance their defensive strategies, ensuring that firmware is regularly assessed and updated.
Understanding penetration testing methodologies can further strengthen an organization's resilience against similar vulnerabilities.
A robust vulnerability management program is essential for identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-39279.
Implementing best practices in security testing ensures that organizations are prepared to address vulnerabilities as they arise.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
.webp)