CVE-2014-0860 in Integrated Management Module
Summary
by MITRE
The firmware before 3.66E in IBM BladeCenter Advanced Management Module (AMM), the firmware before 1.43 in IBM Integrated Management Module (IMM), and the firmware before 4.15 in IBM Integrated Management Module II (IMM2) contains cleartext IPMI credentials, which allows attackers to execute arbitrary IPMI commands, and consequently establish a blade remote-control session, by leveraging access to (1) the chassis internal network or (2) the Ethernet-over-USB interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-0860 represents a critical security flaw in IBM's remote management firmware implementations across multiple server management modules. This weakness specifically affects the Advanced Management Module (AMM) firmware versions prior to 3.66E, Integrated Management Module (IMM) firmware versions prior to 1.43, and Integrated Management Module II (IMM2) firmware versions prior to 4.15. The core issue lies in the improper handling of IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) credentials within the firmware, where sensitive authentication information is stored and transmitted in cleartext format rather than being properly encrypted or hashed. This fundamental flaw creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors with access to specific network interfaces.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary attack vectors that leverage the cleartext IPMI credentials stored within the affected firmware versions. Attackers with access to either the chassis internal network or the Ethernet-over-USB interface can extract these unencrypted credentials and subsequently execute arbitrary IPMI commands against the target management module. This capability enables full remote control of the blade server through legitimate IPMI protocols, allowing attackers to perform administrative functions, monitor system status, manipulate configurations, and potentially gain unauthorized access to the underlying server infrastructure. The cleartext storage of credentials directly violates security best practices and creates an immediate privilege escalation path for attackers who can reach the targeted network segments.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a severe threat to enterprise server security infrastructure, particularly in data center environments where blade servers are commonly deployed. The ability to establish remote control sessions through IPMI commands means that attackers can potentially compromise entire server farms or data center operations without requiring physical access or complex multi-stage attacks. The vulnerability affects critical infrastructure management components that are designed to provide secure remote access to server hardware, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on these management modules for system monitoring, maintenance, and administrative tasks. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft to include potential system compromise, data exfiltration, and disruption of critical business operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that include firmware updates to the latest available versions, network segmentation to isolate management interfaces, and enhanced monitoring of IPMI traffic. The remediation process requires careful planning due to the critical nature of these management modules, as firmware updates may require system downtime or specific update procedures. Network-level mitigations such as restricting access to the chassis internal network and Ethernet-over-USB interfaces through firewall rules and access control lists can provide temporary protection while longer-term solutions are implemented. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious IPMI activity and establish baseline monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a clear violation of security principles outlined in the ATT&CK framework under the T1077.001 technique for local persistence through management modules, emphasizing the critical need for proper credential handling and network segmentation in enterprise security architectures.