CVE-2018-7106 in iLO 4
Summary
by MITRE
A security vulnerability in HPE Integrated Lights-Out 5 (iLO 5) for HPE Gen10 Servers prior to v1.35, HPE Integrated Lights-Out 4 (iLO 4) prior to v2.61, HPE Integrated Lights-Out 3 (iLO 3) prior to v1.90 could be remotely exploited to disclose sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7106 represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting HPE Integrated Lights-Out management interfaces across multiple server generations. This security weakness impacts HPE Gen10 servers running iLO 5 firmware versions prior to v1.35, HPE Gen8 and Gen9 servers with iLO 4 firmware versions prior to v2.61, and legacy HPE Gen7 servers with iLO 3 firmware versions prior to v1.90. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access controls within the remote management interfaces, creating potential attack vectors for unauthorized information disclosure.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of user authentication and authorization mechanisms within the iLO management controllers. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely to access sensitive system information without proper credentials or authentication. The flaw specifically affects the way the management interfaces process and validate incoming requests, allowing malicious actors to bypass normal access controls and retrieve confidential data through crafted requests. This includes potentially exposing system configuration details, user credentials, and other sensitive operational information that should remain protected within the isolated management network.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of affected HPE server environments. Organizations running vulnerable iLO versions face significant risks including unauthorized access to server management interfaces, potential escalation of privileges, and exposure of critical infrastructure details that could aid in subsequent attacks. The remote exploit capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the servers, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where servers are exposed to untrusted networks. This weakness can enable attackers to gather intelligence for more sophisticated attacks or to maintain persistent access to target environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7106 primarily focus on firmware updates and network segmentation. Organizations must immediately update all affected iLO management controllers to the latest available versions, with HPE releasing patches specifically addressing this vulnerability. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate management interfaces from general network traffic, ensuring that iLO interfaces are only accessible through secure, authenticated channels. Additional protective measures include implementing strict firewall rules, disabling unnecessary management services, and conducting regular security assessments of management interface configurations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper output handling leading to information exposure, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1087 for account discovery and T1046 for network service scanning, demonstrating the comprehensive impact across multiple attack phases.