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Intel’s PMx Driver, also called PMxDrv, was reported in November 2019 to expose powerful low-level operations on Windows systems where an attacker or malware could use it. Eclypsium’s analysis described access to physical memory, processor registers, system descriptor tables, I/O and PCI interfaces. The report did not describe a remote, unauthenticated attack: the threat depended on the driver being available and usable on the affected device.
What was the Intel PMx Driver vulnerability?
PMxDrv is a Windows driver associated with Intel utilities, including tools used for BIOS programming and system management. Eclypsium reported that the driver exposed operations with unusually broad privileges. A process able to use those operations could interact with parts of the system normally protected from ordinary applications.
That distinction matters: this was not a flaw that, by itself, let anyone on the internet take over a PC. An attacker or malware already able to run on an affected Windows system would need to be able to use the driver. SecurityWeek’s November 13, 2019 coverage summarized the issue as a driver that could give attackers deep access to a device: SecurityWeek’s report.
What could an attacker do through PMxDrv?
Eclypsium said the driver allowed access to several sensitive classes of system operations. Its November 12, 2019 analysis listed the ability to:
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- Read and write physical memory.
- Read and write model-specific registers and control registers on the processor.
- Access the interrupt descriptor table (IDT), global descriptor table (GDT), and debug registers.
- Obtain I/O and PCI access.
These are low-level capabilities that can affect the operating system and hardware-facing parts of a computer. Eclypsium characterized the potential consequence this way: “This level of access can provide an attacker with near-omnipotent control over a victim device.” That describes the power of the exposed interfaces if an attacker can use the driver; it is not evidence that every system with the driver was compromised. See Eclypsium’s PMx Driver analysis.
Where was PMxDrv distributed?
Eclypsium reported that PMxDrv was used in Intel’s Flash Programming Tool, which was provided to OEM vendors and their customers for BIOS updates. The researchers also noted its inclusion in an Intel tool intended to detect and mitigate a separate AMT vulnerability. SecurityWeek likewise reported that the driver was distributed with BIOS-updating tools.
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For owners, this means the driver might have arrived as part of a manufacturer utility or system-update package rather than as a standalone app they deliberately installed. The 2019 reporting does not establish that every Intel-based PC, every OEM utility, or every version of a BIOS tool included the vulnerable driver.
How to address the issue on an affected PC
Eclypsium reported that Intel released updated pmxdrvx64.sys and pmxdrv.sys files on November 12, 2019. Because that release information is historical, do not treat those filenames or date as instructions to download a driver from an unofficial site. Use the support channel and package intended for the specific computer model.
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- Identify the computer and its manufacturer. Check the model in Windows System Information or on the device label so you can select the correct support page.
- Check the manufacturer’s official support or update utility. Look for current BIOS, firmware, chipset, or management-tool packages applicable to your model. If Intel provides a relevant package for your system, follow Intel’s official instructions; OEM systems may require manufacturer-provided packages.
- Install only the package that applies to your device. Follow the vendor’s documented steps, especially for BIOS or firmware updates, and avoid replacement driver files from third-party download sites.
- Review installed Intel and OEM utilities. If you no longer need a BIOS programming or management utility, consult the computer maker’s guidance before removing it; deleting a driver file manually can disrupt supported update or management functions.
What about Windows driver blocking and HVCI?
Eclypsium’s 2019 report discussed Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI) and blocking known-bad drivers as defensive measures. It also cautioned at the time that HVCI was not available on every device and could depend on processor capabilities and compatibility with other drivers. Those 2019 observations do not establish the present availability of a Windows setting or current blocklist coverage for PMxDrv. For a particular PC, check current Windows Security settings and the device maker’s compatibility guidance rather than assuming a mitigation is enabled.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do not confuse this with Intel’s voltage-settings advisory
Intel advisory INTEL-SA-00289, also associated with CVE-2019-11157, is a separate issue involving voltage settings on certain processors and a system-manufacturer BIOS update. It is not the PMxDrv driver vulnerability discussed here. Intel’s advisory identifies that distinct issue: INTEL-SA-00289.
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