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Security Advisories

HP PC BIOS Could Allow for Local Arbitrary Code Execution

Fortify Security Team
May 12, 2022

A vulnerability has been discovered in certain HP PC BIOS, which could allow for local arbitrary code execution. The BIOS is a firmware which is used to provide runtime services for operating systems and programs and to perform hardware initialization during the booting process. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow for local arbitrary code execution with kernel level privileges. An attacker could then install programs; view; change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

THREAT INTELLIGENCE: A proof-of-concept writeup was posted to GitHub on May 10, 2022. However, there are no reports of active exploitation of the vulnerability.

SYSTEMS AFFECTED:

RISK:
Government:

  • Large and medium government entities: High
  • Small government entities: High

Businesses:

  • Large and medium business entities: High
  • Small business entities: High

Home users: Low

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:

A vulnerability has been discovered in certain HP PC BIOS, which could allow for local arbitrary code execution. The BIOS is a firmware which is used to provide runtime services for operating systems and programs and to perform hardware initialization during the booting process. This vulnerability is exploited by taking advantage of System Management Interrupt Handler (SMI Handler)’s functionality to execute code from overwritten memory. The CVEs associated with this vulnerability are: CVE-2021-3808 and CVE-2021-3809 Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow for local arbitrary code execution with kernel level privileges. An attacker could then install programs; view; change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

We recommend the following actions be taken:

  • Upgrade to the latest version of the BIOS for systems affected.
  • Run all software as a non-privileged user (one without administrative privileges) to diminish the effects of a successful attack.

Verify no unauthorized system modifications have occurred on the system before applying the patch.

REFERENCES:

CVE: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-3808
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-3809

HP:https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_6184733-6184761-16/hpsbhf03788

nStarke:https://nstarke.github.io/uefi/smm/2022/05/10/smm-callout-in-hp-products.html

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