CVE-2019-11173 in Baseboard Management Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient session validation in Intel(R) Baseboard Management Controller firmware may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure and/or denial of service via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-11173 resides within Intel's Baseboard Management Controller firmware, which serves as a critical component for remote system management and monitoring. This firmware implements the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) protocol, enabling administrators to perform out-of-band management functions including system power control, sensor monitoring, and configuration management. The Baseboard Management Controller operates independently of the main system processor and maintains its own operating environment, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise infrastructure. The flaw specifically affects the session validation mechanisms that govern how the firmware authenticates and authorizes management connections, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to sensitive system information and operational capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate session validation procedures within the firmware's authentication framework. When a management session is established, the firmware should validate that the connection originates from an authenticated and authorized source before granting access to system resources. However, the flaw allows an attacker with local physical access to bypass these validation checks, potentially enabling them to establish unauthorized sessions without proper credentials. This weakness manifests in the firmware's failure to properly validate session tokens or connection parameters, particularly when the system is in a state where it should enforce strict authentication requirements. The vulnerability specifically affects the IPMI protocol implementation where session management is handled, creating a scenario where local access can be leveraged to gain elevated privileges or access to restricted functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-11173 extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential system availability compromises and unauthorized control of critical infrastructure components. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can potentially access sensitive system information including hardware configuration details, sensor readings, system logs, and other management data that could reveal critical infrastructure weaknesses. The local access requirement means that physical proximity to the target system is necessary, but this limitation does not prevent attackers who have gained physical access through social engineering, facility infiltration, or other means from leveraging the flaw. The vulnerability can be exploited to conduct denial of service attacks by manipulating session states, potentially causing the management interface to become unresponsive or requiring system reboot cycles. This capability allows attackers to disrupt critical system operations and maintain persistent access to the target infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Intel, as the company has released patches addressing the session validation weaknesses in affected firmware versions. Organizations must implement comprehensive inventory management to identify all systems utilizing Intel Baseboard Management Controllers and ensure timely deployment of security updates. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit physical access to management interfaces, particularly in high-security environments where unauthorized personnel may gain access to critical infrastructure. The implementation of monitoring solutions that can detect unusual session activity or unauthorized access attempts provides additional defense-in-depth measures. Security teams should also consider implementing hardware security modules or trusted platform modules to strengthen authentication mechanisms and prevent exploitation of session validation flaws. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses inadequate access control mechanisms, and represents a significant concern for organizations following ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, particularly in the context of physical access exploitation.