CVE-2015-3324 in ThinkServer System Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The ThinkServer System Manager (TSM) Baseboard Management Controller before firmware 1.27.73476 for ThinkServer RD350, RD450, RD550, RD650, and TD350 does not validate server certificates during an "encrypted remote KVM session," which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2019
The ThinkServer System Manager Baseboard Management Controller vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in server infrastructure management systems that affects multiple ThinkServer models including RD350, RD450, RD550, RD650, and TD350. This vulnerability resides in the firmware version 1.27.73476 and earlier, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors targeting enterprise server environments. The flaw specifically impacts the encrypted remote KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) session functionality, which is essential for remote server administration and management in data center environments. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of encrypted communication channels that administrators rely upon for secure remote access to critical infrastructure components.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure in certificate validation during encrypted remote KVM sessions, which directly violates established security protocols and standards. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in the validation of server certificates during secure communications, specifically categorized under CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation. The vulnerability allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged server certificates that the system accepts without proper verification. This occurs because the firmware implementation lacks proper certificate chain validation, hostname verification, and trust anchor checking mechanisms that are fundamental to secure SSL/TLS communications. The absence of these validation steps means that any attacker with network access can intercept and manipulate the KVM session traffic, potentially gaining unauthorized access to server console interfaces and executing arbitrary commands with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple network interception, as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of critical server management operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to server console interfaces, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or service disruption. The vulnerability particularly affects enterprise data centers where ThinkServer systems are deployed for mission-critical applications, as it undermines the security posture of remote management capabilities that are essential for day-to-day operations. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access through network sniffing and man-in-the-middle attacks, specifically targeting the T1046 network service scanning and T1566 credential access tactics. Organizations relying on remote KVM sessions for server administration face significant risk of unauthorized access to their physical server infrastructure, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates to version 1.27.73476 or later, which includes proper certificate validation mechanisms and enhanced security controls for remote KVM sessions. Organizations should implement additional network security controls including firewall rules that restrict access to KVM management interfaces, network segmentation to isolate management traffic, and monitoring solutions to detect anomalous KVM session activity. The implementation of certificate pinning and additional authentication mechanisms should be considered as supplementary security measures. Security teams must also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected systems within their infrastructure and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. Regular security audits of remote management interfaces should be performed to verify that certificate validation mechanisms are properly configured and functioning as intended. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware in enterprise infrastructure components, as outdated management controllers can provide attackers with persistent access vectors into otherwise secure network environments.