CVE-2010-0104 in Broadcom
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Broadcom Integrated NIC Management Firmware 1.x before 1.40.0.0 and 8.x before 8.08 on the HP Small Form Factor and Microtower platforms allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2026
This vulnerability resides within the Broadcom Integrated NIC Management Firmware component of HP Small Form Factor and Microtower platforms, representing a critical security flaw that affects firmware versions prior to 1.40.0.0 in the 1.x series and 8.08 in the 8.x series. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that the flaw may involve multiple attack surfaces within the firmware implementation, potentially encompassing memory corruption issues, improper input validation, or insecure cryptographic operations. The vulnerability classification aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-119 for memory corruption and CWE-20 for input validation flaws, though the exact technical mechanism remains unspecified in the public description. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical network security boundaries since it affects firmware-level components that operate with elevated privileges and direct hardware access capabilities.
The remote exploitation capability of this vulnerability presents a significant risk to enterprise and consumer platforms, as attackers can potentially execute arbitrary code without physical access to the target systems. This remote code execution vulnerability allows threat actors to gain unauthorized control over network interface management functions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these platforms typically operate in environments where physical security controls may be lax, and the vulnerability could be exploited through network-based attacks that do not require specialized equipment or extensive reconnaissance. The firmware-based nature of the vulnerability means that traditional network security controls such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems may not provide adequate protection against exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends to both availability and confidentiality aspects of affected systems, as successful exploitation could result in persistent backdoor access, data exfiltration, or system denial of service conditions. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially modify network configuration settings, intercept network traffic, or establish persistent access points within corporate networks where these platforms are deployed. The specific platform targeting of HP Small Form Factor and Microtower systems indicates that this vulnerability may be particularly relevant in small to medium business environments where these platforms are commonly deployed. The vulnerability's presence in firmware components also means that standard operating system patches may not address the issue, requiring firmware-level remediation that could involve system downtime and potential compatibility issues with existing network configurations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates to versions 1.40.0.0 or later in the 1.x series and 8.08 or later in the 8.x series as provided by HP. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected platforms within their network infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit potential attack vectors, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous network behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter and T1566 for credential access suggests that exploitation may involve command execution and privilege escalation activities that could be detected through behavioral analysis. Additionally, implementing firmware integrity checking mechanisms and secure boot processes can help prevent unauthorized modifications to the vulnerable firmware components, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other firmware components that may be present in the affected platforms.