CVE-2018-1249 in iDRAC9
Summary
by MITRE
Dell EMC iDRAC9 versions prior to 3.21.21.21 did not enforce the use of TLS/SSL for a connection to iDRAC web server for certain URLs. A man-in-the-middle attacker could use this vulnerability to strip the SSL/TLS protection from a connection between a client and a server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1249 affects Dell EMC iDRAC9 remote management controllers running firmware versions prior to 3.21.21.21. This issue represents a critical security flaw in the implementation of secure communication protocols within the iDRAC web interface. The vulnerability specifically targets the enforcement of Transport Layer Security/Secure Sockets Layer protocols for certain URLs within the iDRAC web server, creating an attack surface where SSL/TLS protection can be stripped from connections. This weakness fundamentally undermines the security model of remote management capabilities that are essential for system administrators to maintain and monitor enterprise infrastructure. The affected versions of iDRAC9 represent a significant risk to organizations relying on these remote management tools for critical infrastructure operations, as they provide an avenue for unauthorized interception of sensitive communication channels.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of secure communication enforcement mechanisms within the iDRAC9 web server implementation. When clients establish connections to specific URLs on the iDRAC9 interface, the system fails to mandate the use of encrypted TLS/SSL connections, allowing for downgrade attacks to unencrypted communication channels. This vulnerability specifically impacts the web server's ability to enforce mandatory secure protocols, creating a scenario where network traffic can be intercepted and manipulated by attackers positioned within the network. The flaw operates at the protocol enforcement level rather than the cryptographic implementation level, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to exploit the trust relationship between management clients and the remote management controller. According to CWE-319, this represents a weakness in the secure communication channel enforcement where the system fails to properly enforce the use of secure protocols for sensitive data transmission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, creating a comprehensive attack vector that can be exploited by man-in-the-middle adversaries to compromise entire remote management sessions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to strip SSL/TLS protection from connections, potentially gaining access to administrative credentials, system configuration data, and other sensitive information transmitted through the iDRAC interface. The implications are particularly severe for enterprise environments where iDRAC9 controllers are used for remote system administration, as attackers could potentially escalate privileges, modify system settings, or even gain persistent access to managed systems. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS, where attackers can manipulate secure communication channels to achieve unauthorized access. Organizations utilizing these remote management controllers face significant risk of unauthorized system compromise, particularly in environments where network segmentation is insufficient to prevent attacker access to management interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1249 require immediate firmware updates to iDRAC9 controllers to version 3.21.21.21 or later, which contain the necessary patches to enforce TLS/SSL requirements for all web server connections. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls including mandatory network segmentation, firewall rules restricting access to iDRAC interfaces, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and security patches for critical infrastructure components, as well as implementing comprehensive network security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication for iDRAC access, and regular security assessments of remote management interfaces to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process must include thorough testing of updated firmware in controlled environments before deployment to production systems to ensure compatibility and avoid operational disruption. Security teams should also establish incident response procedures specifically addressing potential exploitation of this vulnerability, including network monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns and immediate credential rotation if compromise is suspected.