CVE-2007-2387 in Xserve Lights-Out Management
Summary
by MITRE
Apple Xserve Lights-Out Management before Firmware Update 1.0 on Intel hardware does not require a password for remote access to IPMI, which allows remote attackers to gain administrative access via unspecified requests with ipmitool.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-2387 represents a critical security flaw in Apple Xserve Lights-Out Management functionality prior to Firmware Update 1.0 on Intel-based hardware systems. This issue fundamentally undermines the security posture of enterprise server management interfaces by eliminating essential authentication requirements. The vulnerability specifically affects the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) component that enables out-of-band server management capabilities, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors seeking unauthorized system access.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing password requirement within the IPMI implementation, allowing remote attackers to establish administrative connections without proper authentication credentials. This weakness enables attackers to perform unspecified requests against the IPMI interface using standard tools like ipmitool, effectively bypassing all security controls designed to protect the management interface. The vulnerability exists at the firmware level, making it particularly dangerous as it operates below the operating system layer and can persist even when the host operating system is compromised or reinstalled. This type of flaw falls under CWE-287, which specifically addresses improper authentication mechanisms in system components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with full administrative privileges over affected Xserve systems. Once authenticated, attackers can manipulate system configurations, access sensitive data, install malicious software, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the server infrastructure. This capability poses significant risks to enterprise environments where Xserve systems may be deployed in critical roles such as web services, database servers, or network infrastructure components. The vulnerability also affects the broader security architecture by potentially enabling lateral movement within networks where these servers reside, as attackers can use the compromised management interface to pivot to other connected systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of firmware updates from Apple to address the authentication bypass issue. Organizations must also implement network segmentation to isolate management interfaces from general network traffic, ensuring that IPMI ports are not directly accessible from untrusted networks. Additional protective measures include configuring strong access controls for management interfaces, implementing network access controls through firewalls, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure firmware development practices and proper authentication implementation in hardware management components. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious IPMI traffic patterns and establish regular security assessments of server management interfaces to identify similar authentication weaknesses in other enterprise systems.