CVE-2011-3155 in Onboard Administrator
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP Onboard Administrator (OA) 3.21 through 3.31 allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3155 affects HP Onboard Administrator versions 3.21 through 3.31, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the authentication and access control mechanisms of these networked management components. HP Onboard Administrators serve as centralized management interfaces for HP Proliant server environments, providing administrators with remote access to server hardware configuration, monitoring, and maintenance functions. These appliances operate as critical components within data center infrastructure, managing multiple servers and their associated hardware parameters through dedicated network interfaces. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that attackers can exploit various potential weaknesses within the OA's security architecture to gain unauthorized access to restricted management functions.
This vulnerability specifically targets the access restriction controls implemented within the HP Onboard Administrator software, allowing remote attackers to bypass intended security boundaries without proper authentication credentials. The flaw enables unauthorized parties to access management interfaces that should only be available to authenticated administrators, potentially granting them full control over server hardware configurations, firmware updates, and system monitoring capabilities. The remote exploit capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the hardware or network proximity, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such appliances may be exposed to external network traffic. The vulnerability exists within a component that is designed to provide secure remote management access while maintaining strict access controls, creating a significant security gap in the overall infrastructure protection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete compromise of the managed server environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate server configurations, install malicious firmware, or disable critical system functions that could result in service disruption or data loss. The implications are particularly severe in data center environments where multiple servers are managed through a single OA interface, as a successful attack could potentially compromise an entire server fleet. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can enable attackers to escalate their privileges within the network infrastructure, potentially leading to lateral movement and further compromise of adjacent systems. The impact is further exacerbated by the fact that these appliances are often deployed in production environments where they may not be properly secured or monitored for unauthorized access attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3155 should focus on immediate patching of affected HP Onboard Administrator appliances to the latest firmware versions that address the access restriction bypass vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate OA appliances from untrusted networks and limit direct external access to these management interfaces. Network access controls should be configured to restrict access to OA interfaces based on trusted IP addresses and implement strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering tactics that could be employed to exploit the vulnerability. Regular security assessments should include verification of access control configurations and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to these critical management interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for suspicious activities targeting OA appliances and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.