CVE-2018-2566 in Integrated Lights Out Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Vulnerability in the Integrated Lights Out Manager (ILOM) component of Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite (subcomponent: Remote Console Application). Supported versions that are affected are 3.x and 4.x. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows low privileged attacker with network access via TLS to compromise Integrated Lights Out Manager (ILOM). Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker and while the vulnerability is in Integrated Lights Out Manager (ILOM), attacks may significantly impact additional products. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all Integrated Lights Out Manager (ILOM) accessible data as well as unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Integrated Lights Out Manager (ILOM) accessible data. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 7.7 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-2566 resides within Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite's Integrated Lights Out Manager (ILOM) component, specifically affecting the Remote Console Application subcomponent. This security flaw impacts versions 3.x and 4.x of the ILOM software, representing a significant concern for enterprise environments that rely on Oracle's server management infrastructure. The vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within the system's remote management capabilities, which are critical for maintaining server operations and security across data center environments. Organizations utilizing Oracle Sun servers for their computing infrastructure face potential exposure through this weakness, particularly in scenarios where network-based attacks are possible.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as a difficulty in exploitation that requires specific conditions to be met. An attacker must possess network access via TLS protocols while operating with low privilege levels to potentially compromise the ILOM system. This characteristic places the vulnerability within the category of network-based attacks that leverage existing communication channels rather than requiring physical access or elevated privileges through other means. The attack vector specifically targets the Remote Console Application, which serves as a primary interface for remote server management and monitoring activities. The complexity involved in exploiting this vulnerability suggests that while it is not trivial to execute, it remains a viable threat that could be leveraged by determined attackers with sufficient resources and knowledge of the target environment.
The operational impact of successful exploitation presents severe consequences for affected systems and organizations. A successful attack could enable unauthorized creation, deletion, or modification of critical data within the ILOM environment, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire management infrastructure. The scope extends beyond just the immediate ILOM accessible data to include potentially significant system-wide implications through the interconnected nature of server management systems. This vulnerability's potential to cause unauthorized access to critical data and complete access to all ILOM accessible data represents a substantial risk to enterprise security posture. The CVSS 3.0 score of 7.7 indicates a high severity level, with both confidentiality and integrity impacts rated as high, reflecting the critical nature of the potential compromise.
The requirement for human interaction from a person other than the attacker indicates that this vulnerability likely involves some form of social engineering or user-specific actions that must be performed to complete the attack successfully. This characteristic suggests that while the initial exploitation might be automated or network-based, additional human involvement is necessary for full compromise, potentially through phishing, credential manipulation, or other social engineering techniques. The vulnerability's classification under CWE categories related to inadequate input validation or insufficient authorization mechanisms aligns with the described attack patterns and the potential for unauthorized system access. The attack surface extends beyond the immediate ILOM system to potentially impact additional products within the Oracle Sun Systems Products Suite ecosystem, creating cascading security implications.
Organizations must implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. Immediate patching of affected ILOM versions represents the primary defense mechanism, as Oracle would have likely released security updates specifically addressing this weakness. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit unnecessary TLS access to ILOM systems, reducing the attack surface available to potential adversaries. Enhanced monitoring of ILOM access patterns and implementation of intrusion detection systems can help identify suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The security community should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms for ILOM access and establishing strict protocols for user access management. Regular security assessments of Oracle Sun server environments should include thorough vulnerability scanning and penetration testing focused on remote management interfaces to identify similar weaknesses that may not yet be publicly disclosed. The incident highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies for critical infrastructure management systems.