CVE-2015-5435 in integrated Lights Out
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in HP Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) firmware 3 before 1.85 and 4 before 2.22 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5435 affects HP Integrated Lights-Out firmware versions 3 before 1.85 and 4 before 2.22, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to execute denial of service attacks against affected systems. This vulnerability resides within the firmware layer of HP's remote management technology, which is widely deployed in enterprise data centers and server environments for out-of-band management purposes. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that the underlying flaw may involve multiple potential attack surfaces within the iLO firmware architecture, making it particularly challenging to assess and mitigate.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling mechanisms within the iLO firmware's processing routines. When authenticated users send specially crafted requests to the management interface, the firmware fails to properly handle these inputs, leading to system instability and subsequent service interruption. This flaw operates at the firmware level, meaning that it exists below the operating system layer and can potentially persist even if the host operating system is compromised or updated. The authentication requirement indicates that the vulnerability cannot be exploited by anonymous attackers, but rather requires legitimate credentials to the iLO management interface, which may have been compromised through other means such as credential theft or privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5435 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise the availability of critical infrastructure management capabilities. In enterprise environments, iLO interfaces are essential for remote server administration, system monitoring, and maintenance operations, particularly during out-of-hours maintenance windows or emergency situations. When this vulnerability is successfully exploited, administrators lose access to their remote management capabilities, forcing them to rely on physical access or alternative management methods that may not be available or practical. This can result in extended downtime for server maintenance operations, increased operational costs, and potential business disruption. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to escalate their compromise by using the denial of service as a stepping stone for further attacks, as demonstrated by techniques outlined in the attack pattern taxonomy.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including firmware updates to versions 1.85 and 2.22 respectively, which contain the necessary patches to address the vulnerability. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be enforced to limit the scope of potential exploitation, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual patterns in iLO management traffic that might indicate attempted exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation" and is consistent with attack patterns categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other firmware components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware in enterprise infrastructure management systems.