# CVE-2020-12303: Use after free in Intel(R) CSME, Intel(R) TXE

> An authenticated local attacker can exploit a use-after-free flaw in Intel CSME/TXE firmware to escalate privileges.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Nov 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hwgw-9wx9-2x6f

## What is CVE-2020-12303?

CVE-2020-12303 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Intel(R) CSME, Intel(R) TXE, published on 12 Nov 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Use after free in DAL subsystem for Intel(R) CSME versions before 11.8.80, 11.12.80, 11.22.80, 12.0.70, 13.0.40, 13.30.10, 14.0.45 and 14.5.25, Intel(R) TXE 3.1.80, 4.0.30 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privileges via local access.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-12303?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Intel Converged Security and Manageability Engine, Intel Trusted Execution Technology.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-12303?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-12303 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-12303 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-12303 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Intel(R) CSME, Intel(R) TXE

- [CVE-2020-12297](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-12297/): Privilege escalation in Intel(R) CSME, Intel TXE (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-24516](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-24516/): Privilege escalation in Intel(R) CSME versions (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2020-8705](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8705/): Misconfiguration in Intel(R) Boot Guard, Intel(R) CSME, Intel(R) TXE, Intel(R) SPS (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2020-8745](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8745/): Privilege escalation in Intel(R) CSME, Intel(R) TXE (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2020-8703](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8703/): Privilege escalation in Intel(R) CSME versions (medium 6.7)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-12303 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-12303 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Intel(R) CSME, Intel(R) TXE, published on 12 Nov 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-12303 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Intel(R) CSME, Intel(R) TXE. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-12303/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-12303/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-12303
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-12303
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-12303

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-12303/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.