CVE-2023-5410 Overview
A potential security vulnerability has been reported in the system BIOS of certain HP PC products, which might allow memory tampering. This vulnerability enables a local attacker with high privileges to tamper with system memory, potentially affecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems. HP has acknowledged the vulnerability and is releasing mitigation for the potential vulnerability.
Critical Impact
This BIOS-level vulnerability allows memory tampering with potential for scope change, meaning a successful exploit could impact resources beyond the vulnerable component's security scope.
Affected Products
- HP PC Products with vulnerable system BIOS versions
- Specific affected models detailed in HP Security Advisory HPSBHF03924
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-03-12 - CVE CVE-2023-5410 published to NVD
- 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2023-5410
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability exists within the system BIOS of certain HP PC products and allows for memory tampering attacks. The attack requires local access to the system and high privileges to exploit, but if successful, the impact extends beyond the initially compromised component (scope change). The vulnerability is classified under CWE-203 (Observable Discrepancy), which typically involves information exposure through discrepancies in system behavior that can be observed by an attacker.
In the context of BIOS-level vulnerabilities, observable discrepancies can be leveraged to infer sensitive information about memory contents or system state, which can then be exploited for memory tampering. The local attack vector combined with the requirement for elevated privileges indicates this is likely exploitable by an attacker who already has privileged access to the system or through a chained attack sequence.
Root Cause
The root cause is related to CWE-203 (Observable Discrepancy), where the BIOS implementation may expose information through timing variations or other observable behaviors that can be leveraged to perform memory tampering attacks. This type of side-channel vulnerability in firmware can allow attackers to bypass security controls and manipulate protected memory regions.
Attack Vector
The vulnerability requires local access to the target system (AV:L) and high-level privileges (PR:H) to exploit. The attack complexity is low (AC:L), meaning once an attacker has the required access level, exploitation is relatively straightforward and does not require special conditions. No user interaction is needed for successful exploitation (UI:N).
The vulnerability has a scope change (S:C), indicating that a successful exploit can affect components beyond the vulnerable BIOS, potentially impacting the operating system, applications, or other system firmware. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning as it could serve as a persistence mechanism or enable further attacks on the system.
Detection Methods for CVE-2023-5410
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected BIOS configuration changes or tampering with BIOS settings
- Anomalous system behavior during boot process or POST (Power-On Self-Test)
- Unauthorized modifications to protected memory regions
- Evidence of privilege escalation attempts preceding BIOS manipulation
Detection Strategies
- Monitor BIOS integrity using hardware-based attestation mechanisms such as TPM (Trusted Platform Module)
- Implement endpoint detection solutions capable of monitoring firmware-level changes
- Deploy SentinelOne Singularity Platform for comprehensive endpoint visibility including firmware tampering detection
- Enable Secure Boot and verify its configuration has not been modified
Monitoring Recommendations
- Regularly audit BIOS versions across the enterprise and compare against known-good baselines
- Implement automated BIOS version checking and alerting for systems running vulnerable firmware
- Monitor for unusual local privileged access patterns that could precede BIOS attacks
- Review system event logs for boot-time anomalies or firmware errors
How to Mitigate CVE-2023-5410
Immediate Actions Required
- Review the HP Security Advisory HPSBHF03924 to identify affected systems
- Inventory all HP PC products in your environment and check BIOS versions
- Apply HP-provided BIOS updates to all affected systems as a priority
- Restrict local administrative access to minimize potential attack surface
Patch Information
HP has released mitigation for this vulnerability. System administrators should consult the HP Security Advisory for specific BIOS updates applicable to their affected products. BIOS updates should be applied following HP's recommended procedures to avoid system issues.
Workarounds
- Enable BIOS password protection to prevent unauthorized BIOS modifications
- Configure Secure Boot and enable TPM-based firmware integrity verification where supported
- Implement strict access controls to limit local privileged access on affected systems
- Consider physical security measures to prevent local access by unauthorized individuals
- Monitor affected systems with enhanced logging until patches can be applied
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
