How severe is CVE-2018-12169?

CVE-2018-12169 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.6, rated high severity. It is exploitable over physical access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2018-12169 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (44th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2018-12169?

CVE-2018-12169 primarily affects Intel Core I3. In total, 345 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2018-12169?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2018-12169 published?

CVE-2018-12169 was published on 2018-09-21 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2018-12169

CVE-2018-12169 is a high-severity vulnerability in Intel Core I3 with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.6. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-287.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.6)
CVSS v2: 4.6
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (44th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-287
Affected product: Intel Core I3
Published: 2018-09-21
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Platform sample code firmware in 4th Generation Intel Core Processor, 5th Generation Intel Core Processor, 6th Generation Intel Core Processor, 7th Generation Intel Core Processor and 8th Generation Intel Core Processor contains a logic error which may allow physical attacker to potentially bypass firmware authentication.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2018-12169?: Platform sample code firmware in 4th Generation Intel Core Processor, 5th Generation Intel Core Processor, 6th Generation Intel Core Processor, 7th Generation Intel Core Processor and 8th Generation Intel Core Processor contains a logic error which may allow physical attacker to potentially bypass firmware authentication.
How severe is CVE-2018-12169?: CVE-2018-12169 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.6, rated high severity. It is exploitable over physical access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2018-12169 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (44th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2018-12169?: CVE-2018-12169 primarily affects Intel Core I3. In total, 345 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2018-12169?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2018-12169 published?: CVE-2018-12169 was published on 2018-09-21 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (345)

cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4000m:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4005u:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4010u:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4010y:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4012y:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4020y:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4025u:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4030u:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4030y:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4100e:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4100m:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4100u:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4102e:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4110e:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4110m:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4112e:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4120u:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4130:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4130t:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4150:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4150t:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4158u:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4160:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4160t:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4170:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4170t:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4330:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4330t:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4330te:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4340:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4340te:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4350:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4350t:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4360:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4360t:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4370:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:4370t:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:5005u:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:5010u:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:intel:core_i3:5015u:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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