CVE-2016-4375 in Integrated Lights-Out
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in HPE Integrated Lights-Out 3 (aka iLO 3) firmware before 1.88, Integrated Lights-Out 4 (aka iLO 4) firmware before 2.44, and Integrated Lights-Out 4 (aka iLO 4) mRCA firmware before 2.32 allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information, modify data, or cause a denial of service via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4375 affects HPE Integrated Lights-Out management interfaces, specifically targeting iLO 3 firmware versions prior to 1.88 and iLO 4 firmware versions prior to 2.44 along with mRCA firmware versions before 2.32. These management interfaces serve as critical out-of-band management systems that provide remote access to server hardware for monitoring, configuration, and maintenance purposes. The affected systems operate within enterprise data centers and cloud environments where they control physical server infrastructure through dedicated network connections. The vulnerabilities represent a significant security risk as they enable remote attackers to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of server management functions without requiring physical access or legitimate credentials. These management interfaces are typically exposed to network traffic and may be accessible from outside the corporate network, creating an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to gain unauthorized access to enterprise infrastructure.
The technical nature of these unspecified vulnerabilities encompasses multiple attack vectors that allow remote exploitation through unknown methods. The affected firmware versions contain security flaws that permit attackers to obtain sensitive information from the management interface, modify critical data within the system, or cause denial of service conditions that could render the management interface unavailable. These vulnerabilities fall under the broader category of security weaknesses in remote management systems, where the lack of proper authentication, authorization, or input validation mechanisms creates opportunities for exploitation. The unspecified nature of the exact attack vectors suggests that multiple classes of vulnerabilities may be present, potentially including buffer overflows, injection flaws, or misconfigurations that could be leveraged to achieve the described impacts. The vulnerabilities are particularly concerning because they affect the core firmware components that manage the fundamental security controls of the server hardware, making them difficult to detect and remediate.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential system compromise and service disruption across enterprise environments. Remote attackers could exploit these weaknesses to gain unauthorized access to server management interfaces, potentially leading to complete system compromise or unauthorized modification of critical server configurations. The ability to cause denial of service conditions means that legitimate administrators could lose access to their management interfaces, creating operational disruptions that may require physical intervention to resolve. Organizations relying on these management systems for server monitoring and maintenance would face significant risks to their infrastructure security, as attackers could potentially manipulate server settings, access sensitive data stored in management interfaces, or disrupt critical infrastructure operations. The vulnerabilities affect systems that are typically considered to be isolated from the main network, making them particularly dangerous as they provide an alternative access point for attackers who may have already compromised other network segments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including firmware updates to the latest versions that address these vulnerabilities, as HPE has released patches specifically designed to resolve the security issues. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate management interfaces from general network traffic, reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Access controls should be strengthened through the implementation of multi-factor authentication and secure remote access protocols. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining vulnerabilities in the management infrastructure. The remediation process should follow industry best practices and include comprehensive testing of firmware updates to ensure compatibility with existing systems. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior in management interface traffic, providing early warning of potential exploitation attempts. These vulnerabilities align with common attack patterns documented in the mitre ATT&CK framework under the system network configuration management and remote services categories, representing persistent threats that require continuous monitoring and updating of security controls.