CVE-2019-3707 in iDRAC9
Summary
by MITRE
Dell EMC iDRAC9 versions prior to 3.30.30.30 contain an authentication bypass vulnerability. A remote attacker may potentially exploit this vulnerability to bypass authentication and gain access to the system by sending specially crafted input data to the WS-MAN interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3707 affects Dell EMC iDRAC9 remote management controllers running versions prior to 3.30.30.30, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that undermines the security posture of enterprise data centers. This vulnerability specifically targets the WS-MAN interface, which serves as a standardized management communication protocol for remote system administration and monitoring. The flaw enables unauthorized remote attackers to circumvent the authentication mechanisms that are fundamental to protecting sensitive system management functions, potentially allowing full administrative access to the underlying hardware infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the WS-MAN interface implementation, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that bypass the normal authentication flow. This weakness falls under the category of CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the iDRAC9 controller fails to properly validate authentication tokens or credentials submitted through the WS-MAN protocol, creating an attack vector that can be leveraged without requiring prior authentication credentials. The flaw operates at the protocol level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from external network positions without requiring physical access to the managed systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the affected systems. This includes the ability to modify system configurations, access sensitive data, install malicious software, and potentially escalate privileges to gain broader network access. The vulnerability affects the core management infrastructure that organizations rely upon for remote system monitoring and maintenance, creating a significant risk to business continuity and data security. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1077 which involves using valid accounts or credentials to access systems, but in this case the attacker can bypass authentication entirely rather than simply using stolen credentials.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading all affected iDRAC9 controllers to version 3.30.30.30 or later, which includes patches addressing the authentication bypass vulnerability. Network segmentation strategies should be implemented to limit access to the WS-MAN interface to trusted administrative networks only, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous authentication patterns or unauthorized access attempts. Additional mitigations include disabling unnecessary management interfaces when not actively required, implementing strong network access controls, and conducting regular security assessments of remote management infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and security patches in enterprise environments, particularly for remote management systems that serve as potential entry points for attackers. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms where possible and establish robust change management processes to ensure timely deployment of security patches across their infrastructure.