CVE-2018-7072 in Moonshot Provisioning Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A remote bypass of security restrictions vulnerability was identified in HPE Moonshot Provisioning Manager prior to v1.24.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-7072 represents a critical security flaw in HPE Moonshot Provisioning Manager software versions prior to v1.24, where an attacker can remotely bypass established security restrictions. This issue fundamentally undermines the integrity of the system's access control mechanisms, potentially allowing unauthorized individuals to gain elevated privileges or access restricted functionality without proper authentication. The vulnerability exists within the provisioning manager's authentication and authorization processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent the intended security boundaries that protect sensitive system configurations and resources.
This remote exploit leverages weaknesses in the software's security architecture, specifically targeting the authentication flow that should prevent unauthorized access to provisioning functions. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the system's security controls from external networks, eliminating the need for physical access or prior credentials. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which describes improper access control issues, and potentially CWE-306 which addresses missing authentication. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the provisioning manager typically handles critical infrastructure deployment and configuration tasks, making unauthorized access potentially devastating for enterprise environments relying on HPE Moonshot systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to deploy malicious configurations, modify provisioning templates, or gain control over hardware resources within the Moonshot environment. This capability represents a significant risk to enterprise security posture, particularly in data center environments where provisioning managers control large-scale infrastructure deployment. Organizations using affected versions may face potential data breaches, system compromise, and disruption of critical provisioning workflows. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with exposed management interfaces.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching to version 1.24 or later, which addresses the authentication bypass flaw through enhanced access control mechanisms. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit exposure of the provisioning manager interfaces, while additional monitoring should be deployed to detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized provisioning activities. Security teams should also review existing access controls and implement principle of least privilege for provisioning manager accounts. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not disrupt legitimate provisioning operations while effectively closing the security gap. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for provisioning manager access and regularly audit provisioning activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and the potential consequences of running outdated software in enterprise infrastructure environments.