CVE-2015-5367 in lt4112 LTE
Summary
by MITRE
The HP lt4112 LTE/HSPA+ Gobi 4G module with firmware before 12.500.00.15.1803 on EliteBook, ElitePad, Elite, ProBook, Spectre, ZBook, and mt41 Thin Client devices allows local users to gain privileges via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2022
The CVE-2015-5367 vulnerability affects HP mobile communication modules embedded in various enterprise devices including EliteBook laptops, ProBook workstations, Spectre ultrabooks, ZBook workstations, and mt41 Thin Clients. This security flaw resides within the Gobi 4G module firmware version 12.500.00.15.1803 and earlier, which is commonly deployed in enterprise environments where device security and data protection are paramount. The vulnerability represents a local privilege escalation issue that enables attackers with low-privilege user access to elevate their privileges within the affected systems, potentially compromising the entire device and its stored data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and privilege management within the firmware components of the Gobi 4G module. While the exact exploitation vectors remain unspecified in the public CVE description, such privilege escalation vulnerabilities typically arise from improper access control mechanisms, buffer overflows in firmware code, or insecure parameter handling within communication protocols. The affected firmware likely contains code paths where user-supplied inputs are not properly sanitized or validated before being processed with elevated privileges, creating potential attack surfaces that could be leveraged by malicious actors. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-20, which covers "Improper Input Validation" and CWE-264, which addresses "Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls" in software security design.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5367 extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect enterprise network security and data integrity. In corporate environments where these devices are used for sensitive communications, the ability to escalate privileges could allow attackers to access confidential business data, intercept communications, or establish persistent backdoors within the organization's network infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly concerns enterprise IT administrators because it affects multiple device categories that are commonly used in business environments, potentially creating widespread security risks across different departments and operational units. The affected devices typically handle sensitive corporate communications and may contain proprietary information that could be compromised through privilege escalation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including firmware updates from HP to address the vulnerability in affected systems. The recommended approach involves deploying the latest firmware version 12.500.00.15.1803 or later that contains patches for the privilege escalation flaw. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments across all affected device inventories to identify systems running vulnerable firmware versions. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, while access controls and user privilege management should be reviewed to minimize potential impact. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to privilege escalation techniques and could be leveraged as part of broader attack chains targeting enterprise endpoints, making it a critical consideration for security operations and incident response planning.