Intel® Management Engine (Intel® ME 6.x/7.x/8.x/9.x/10.x/11.x), Intel® Trusted Execution Engine (Intel® TXE 3.0), and Intel® Server Platform Services (Intel® SPS 4.0) vulnerability (Intel-SA-00086)

Note This article describes issues related to security vulnerabilities found in the Intel® Management Engine Firmware. This article doesn't contain information related to the processor side-channel vulnerability (known as Meltdown/Spectre). If you're looking for information on the Meltdown/Spectre issue, go to Side-Channel Analysis Facts and Intel® Products.

In response to issues identified by external researchers, Intel has performed an in-depth comprehensive security review of the following with the objective of enhancing firmware resilience:

Intel® Management Engine (Intel® ME)

Intel® Trusted Execution Engine (Intel® TXE)

Intel® Server Platform Services (SPS)

Intel has identified security vulnerabilities that could potentially impact certain PCs, servers, and IoT platforms.

Systems using Intel ME Firmware versions 6.x-11.x, servers using SPS Firmware version 4.0, and systems using TXE version 3.0 are impacted. You may find these firmware versions on certain processors from the:

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th generation Intel® Core™ Processor Families

Intel® Xeon® Processor E3-1200 v5 and v6 Product Family

Intel® Xeon® Processor Scalable Family

Intel® Xeon® W Processor

Intel Atom® C3000 Processor Family

Apollo Lake Intel Atom® Processor E3900 series

Apollo Lake Intel® Pentium® Processors

Intel® Pentium® Processor G Series

Intel® Celeron® G, N, and J series Processors

To determine if the identified vulnerabilities impact your system, download and run the Intel CSME Version Detection tool using the links below.



Frequently Asked Questions Section



Available resources

Intel official security advisory: Technical details on the vulnerability

Resources for Microsoft and Linux* users

Resources from system/motherboard manufacturers

Note Links for other system/motherboard manufacturers will be provided when available. If your manufacturer is not listed, contact them for information on the availability of the necessary software update.



Frequently asked questions:​

Q: The Intel CSME Version Detection Tool reports that my system is vulnerable. What do I do?

A: Intel has provided system and motherboard manufacturers with the necessary firmware and software updates to resolve the vulnerabilities identified in Security Advisory Intel-SA-00086.

Contact your system or motherboard manufacturer regarding their plans for making the updates available to end users.

Some manufacturers have provided Intel with a direct link for their customers to obtain additional information and available software updates (Refer to the list below).

Q: Why do I need to contact my system or motherboard manufacturer? Why can’t Intel provide the necessary update for my system?

A: Intel is unable to provide a generic update due to management engine firmware customizations performed by system and motherboard manufacturers.

Q: My system is reported as may be Vulnerable by the Intel CSME Version Detection Tool. What do I do?

A: A status of may be Vulnerable is usually seen when either of the following drivers aren't installed:

Intel® Management Engine Interface (Intel® MEI) driver

or

Intel® Trusted Execution Engine Interface (Intel® TXEI) driver

Contact your system or motherboard manufacturer to obtain the correct drivers for your system.

Q: My system or motherboard manufacturer is not shown in your list. What do I do?

A: The list below shows links from system or motherboard manufacturers who have provided Intel with information. If your manufacturer is not shown, contact them using their standard support mechanisms (website, phone, email, and so on) for assistance.

Q: What types of access would an attacker need to exploit the identified vulnerabilities?

A: If the equipment manufacturer enables Intel-recommended Flash Descriptor write protections, an attacker needs physical access to platform’s firmware flash to exploit vulnerabilities identified in:

CVE-2017-5705

CVE-2017-5706

CVE-2017-5707

CVE-2017-5708

CVE-2017-5709

CVE-2017-5710

CVE-2017-5711

The attacker gains physical access by manually updating the platform with a malicious firmware image through flash programmer physically connected to the platform’s flash memory. Flash Descriptor write-protection is a platform setting usually set at the end of manufacturing. Flash Descriptor write-protection protects settings on the Flash from being maliciously or unintentionally changed after manufacturing is completed.

If the equipment manufacturer doesn't enable Intel-recommended Flash Descriptor write protections, an attacker needs Operating kernel access (logical access, Operating System Ring 0). The attacker needs this access to exploit the identified vulnerabilities by applying a malicious firmware image to the platform through a malicious platform driver.

The vulnerability identified in CVE-2017-5712 is exploitable remotely over the network in conjunction with a valid administrative Intel® Management Engine credential. The vulnerability is not exploitable if a valid administrative credential is unavailable.

If you need further assistance, contact Intel Customer Support to submit an online service request.