CVE-2011-2405 in Proliant Sl Advanced Power Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The HP ProLiant SL Advanced Power Manager (SL-APM) with firmware before 1.20 does not properly validate users, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2405 affects HP ProLiant SL Advanced Power Manager systems running firmware versions prior to 1.20. This device serves as a critical component in data center power management infrastructure, specifically designed to monitor and control power distribution for HP ProLiant servers. The SL-APM operates as a network-accessible device that manages power states, monitoring power consumption, and providing remote management capabilities for server environments. The device's role in critical infrastructure makes it a potential target for attackers seeking to disrupt operations or gain unauthorized access to power management controls.
The technical flaw resides in the authentication mechanism of the SL-APM firmware, where insufficient user validation procedures exist within the system's access control framework. This authentication weakness allows remote attackers to exploit the system without proper credentials, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to the device's management interfaces. The vulnerability manifests as a failure in proper user validation, which can be leveraged to execute denial of service attacks against the power management system. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack surfaces may be exploitable, potentially including network-based attacks that target the device's web interface, SNMP services, or other remote management protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it represents a significant security weakness in critical infrastructure management. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can potentially disrupt power management operations for entire server racks, leading to service interruptions, hardware instability, or even complete system outages. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the SL-APM is typically deployed in production environments where continuous operation is critical, and unauthorized access to power management controls could enable attackers to manipulate server power states, potentially causing data loss or system corruption. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates to version 1.20 or later, which contain the necessary authentication fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate these devices from general network access, limiting exposure to unauthorized users. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary network services, implementing strong access controls for management interfaces, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity targeting these devices. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their data center infrastructure to identify similar authentication weaknesses in other networked management systems. The remediation process must be carefully planned to avoid disrupting ongoing operations, particularly since these devices are critical for maintaining power stability in server environments. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and firewall rules specifically targeting the ports and protocols used by the SL-APM to reduce the attack surface.