CVE-2017-3770 in LXCA
Summary
by MITRE
Privilege escalation vulnerability in LXCA versions earlier than 1.3.2 where an authenticated user may be able to abuse certain web interface functionality to execute privileged commands within the underlying LXCA operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2019
The CVE-2017-3770 vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within HPE Lights-Out Configuration Utility (LXCA) software versions prior to 1.3.2. This vulnerability exists within the web interface component of the LXCA system, which serves as a management interface for HPE server hardware configurations. The flaw allows authenticated users to exploit specific web functionality to execute commands with elevated privileges on the underlying operating system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper privilege handling within the web application layer, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to escalate their access rights beyond normal user limitations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of web interface parameters or function calls that should normally be restricted to administrative users. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting specific requests through the web interface that bypass normal access controls and execute system-level commands. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-264, which addresses "Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation." The flaw essentially allows an authenticated user to gain root or administrative privileges on the LXCA host system, potentially enabling full system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive server configurations and management functions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise environments that rely on LXCA for server management and monitoring. Organizations using affected versions of LXCA face potential unauthorized access to critical server infrastructure, data exfiltration, and system compromise. The impact extends beyond individual server vulnerabilities to encompass entire data center management systems, as LXCA often serves as a central point for managing multiple server configurations. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is shared or where credential theft occurs through other attack vectors.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2017-3770 primarily involves upgrading to LXCA version 1.3.2 or later, which includes proper input validation and privilege enforcement mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to LXCA interfaces and enforce strict access controls through role-based permissions. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual command execution patterns and unauthorized access attempts to management interfaces. Additionally, regular security assessments of management interfaces and privileged access controls should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the updated software to ensure that the privilege escalation paths have been properly closed while maintaining all necessary management functionality for authorized personnel.