CVE-2020-0566

Physical privilege escalation via USB debug DMA

Published Jun 15, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper access control in Intel Trusted Execution Engine before 3.1.75 and 4.0.25 allows physically proximate attackers to escalate privileges. On BXT-P and GLK platforms, firmware leaves USB DbC usable after manufacturing closes debug access, permitting RS1 DMA into CSME SRAM during reset or power-state resume. The path requires a physical USB connection and a CSME reset or resume, and successful exploitation grants control over trusted-engine execution without interrupting availability.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Intel Trusted Execution Engine before 3.1.75 and 4.0.25 allows physically proximate attackers to escalate privileges. On BXT-P and GLK platforms, firmware leaves USB DbC usable after manufacturing closes debug access, permitting RS1 DMA into CSME SRAM during reset or power-state resume. The path requires a physical USB connection and a CSME reset or resume, and successful exploitation grants control over trusted-engine execution without interrupting availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-0566
Published
Jun 15, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Intel
Product
Intel Trusted Execution Engine
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 15, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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  1. Affected versionversion=See provided reference

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Intel · Intel Trusted Execution Engineversion=See provided reference

Published CVSS scores

4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
6.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.3IntelCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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