LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2020-8738: Improper conditions check in Intel BIOS platform sample code for some Intel(R) Processors before may allow...

Improper conditions check in Intel BIOS platform sample code for some Intel(R) Processors before may allow a privileged user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2020-8738 is a local privilege-escalation issue in Intel BIOS platform sample code for some Intel processors. It matters because firmware-level weaknesses can undermine system trust, but the provided evidence does not identify active exploitation, CVSS scoring, exact versions, or a universal fix.

Executive priority

Treat this as a firmware exposure review, not an emergency internet-facing incident based on the supplied evidence. Prioritize identifying affected assets and vendor firmware status, especially for high-value servers and appliances.

Technical view

The CVE describes an improper condition check in Intel BIOS platform sample code. A privileged local user may escalate privileges through local access on systems whose BIOS incorporated affected code. Affected-version detail is deferred to vendor references, so exposure must be mapped through Intel, OEM, and NetApp guidance.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to systems whose BIOS or appliance firmware used the affected Intel sample code. The bundle does not identify exact processor models, BIOS versions, OEMs, or NetApp product status, so asset-specific vendor confirmation is required.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The described attacker already needs privileged local access, which lowers remote attack likelihood but still matters on shared, compromised, or poorly controlled administrative endpoints.

Researcher notes

Key evidence gaps are severity score, CWE mapping, affected version ranges, fixed versions, and exploit observations. Analysis should remain tied to vendor advisories because the CVE text only names Intel BIOS platform sample code and local privileged escalation potential.

Mitigation direction

  • Review Intel SA-00390 and relevant OEM firmware advisories for affected platforms.
  • Check NetApp advisory guidance if NetApp products are in scope.
  • Apply only vendor-published BIOS or firmware updates applicable to confirmed assets.
  • Limit and monitor local privileged access on potentially affected systems.
  • Prioritize firmware update windows for shared, regulated, or high-value systems.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory systems using Intel processors and record BIOS or firmware versions.
  • Map each platform to Intel, OEM, and NetApp advisory applicability.
  • Confirm whether installed firmware predates vendor fixed guidance.
  • Review privileged local account access on potentially affected assets.
  • Document unsupported or unconfirmed platforms for vendor follow-up.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-8738 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/aIntel BIOS platform sample code for some Intel(R) ProcessorsSee referencesListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.