CVE-2013-4786 in Fujitsu M10-1
Summary
by MITRE
The IPMI 2.0 specification supports RMCP+ Authenticated Key-Exchange Protocol (RAKP) authentication, which allows remote attackers to obtain password hashes and conduct offline password guessing attacks by obtaining the HMAC from a RAKP message 2 response from a BMC.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-4786 represents a critical weakness in the IPMI 2.0 specification's implementation of the Remote Management Control Protocol plus authenticated key exchange protocol. This flaw specifically affects Baseboard Management Controllers that implement the RAKP authentication mechanism, creating a significant security risk for enterprise infrastructure systems. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of authentication messages within the RAKP protocol, which is designed to establish secure communication channels between remote management clients and BMCs. When an attacker can intercept the RAKP message 2 response, they gain access to the HMAC value that contains sufficient information to perform offline dictionary attacks against the password credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of the RAKP authentication flow where message 2 contains the HMAC-SHA1 hash value that is computed using the password as a secret key. This particular implementation flaw allows attackers to capture the authentication response without requiring direct access to the BMC system itself. The captured HMAC value can then be processed through offline brute-force or dictionary attacks to determine the actual password used for authentication. This weakness directly relates to CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues such as insufficient entropy or improper use of cryptographic primitives, and specifically targets the improper implementation of authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of IPMI 2.0, which relies on the assumption that authentication messages cannot be intercepted and exploited by unauthorized parties.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-4786 extends far beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with a pathway to gain persistent access to critical infrastructure management systems. When successful, this vulnerability allows attackers to establish unauthorized remote access to BMC systems, potentially enabling them to perform system configuration changes, extract sensitive data, or even disable security features. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be executed remotely without requiring physical access to the target systems, making it applicable to a wide range of enterprise environments including data centers, cloud infrastructure, and industrial control systems. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including credential access through password dumping and privilege escalation via remote service access. Organizations running IPMI-enabled systems are at risk of complete system compromise, as BMC access often provides administrative privileges over the entire server hardware.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of multiple security controls to address both the immediate threat and prevent future exploitation attempts. Organizations should implement strong password policies with complex, unique credentials for all BMC accounts, as the vulnerability enables offline password cracking attacks that can be accelerated through modern computing resources. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit direct access to BMC management interfaces, while additional authentication mechanisms such as two-factor authentication should be implemented where possible. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading BMC firmware to versions that properly implement the RAKP protocol with enhanced cryptographic security measures, including the use of stronger hash algorithms and proper session key management. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or repeated failed login attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper cryptographic implementation in network protocols and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant security risks for critical infrastructure systems.