CVE-2019-11174 in Baseboard Management Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient access control in Intel(R) Baseboard Management Controller firmware may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure via network access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-11174 resides within Intel's Baseboard Management Controller firmware, representing a critical weakness in the access control mechanisms that govern network-based interactions with system management interfaces. This flaw specifically affects the IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) protocol implementation within the firmware, creating a pathway for unauthorized network access that could potentially expose sensitive system information. The vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication checks that fail to properly validate user credentials before granting access to management functions, allowing any remote attacker with network connectivity to the affected system to potentially establish unauthorized access to critical system information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves leveraging the absence of proper authentication mechanisms within the firmware's network stack to gain access to management interfaces without requiring valid credentials. This insufficient access control implementation creates a persistent security gap that can be exploited by malicious actors to extract sensitive data, monitor system activities, or potentially manipulate management functions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the firmware level, making it difficult to detect and remediate through standard operating system security measures. The flaw represents a violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate security controls in the firmware's access management architecture.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations to significant risks including unauthorized data access, potential system compromise, and information disclosure that could lead to broader security breaches. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that any attacker with network access to the affected system can potentially access management interfaces, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments where multiple systems are exposed to external networks. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues, data breaches, and potential financial losses due to the exposure of sensitive system information that could include hardware configurations, management credentials, or operational data.
Security mitigations for CVE-2019-11174 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Intel to address the access control flaw, combined with network segmentation to limit exposure of management interfaces to trusted networks only. Network-level controls such as firewall rules and access control lists should be implemented to restrict access to IPMI ports and management interfaces. Organizations should also conduct thorough network scans to identify all affected systems and implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses inadequate access control mechanisms, and represents a technique that could be categorized under ATT&CK tactic of privilege escalation through unauthorized access to system management interfaces. Regular security assessments and firmware inventory management are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting across the organization's infrastructure.