CVE-2020-5208 in ipmitool
Summary
by MITRE
It's been found that multiple functions in ipmitool before 1.8.19 neglect proper checking of the data received from a remote LAN party, which may lead to buffer overflows and potentially to remote code execution on the ipmitool side. This is especially dangerous if ipmitool is run as a privileged user. This problem is fixed in version 1.8.19.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-5208 affects ipmitool versions prior to 1.8.19 and represents a critical security flaw in the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) toolset. This issue manifests through inadequate validation of data received from remote LAN parties, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit buffer overflow conditions within the software. The vulnerability specifically targets the input validation mechanisms that should normally sanitize data received from network communications, particularly those involving IPMI protocol implementations. The affected ipmitool versions fail to properly implement bounds checking on received data, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that exceed allocated buffer sizes and overwrite adjacent memory regions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of IPMI protocol communications where ipmitool acts as a server or client receiving data from remote parties. When ipmitool processes data from remote LAN parties without proper validation, it fails to check the length of incoming data against predetermined buffer limits. This lack of input sanitization creates opportunities for attackers to inject oversized payloads that trigger buffer overflow conditions. The nature of these buffer overflows can result in arbitrary code execution on the system running ipmitool, particularly when the tool is executed with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that ipmitool is often run with root or administrative privileges in server environments, providing attackers with elevated system access upon successful exploitation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to enterprise infrastructure management systems that rely on IPMI for remote server monitoring and management. The attack surface is particularly concerning in data center environments where ipmitool is commonly used for out-of-band management of servers, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to critical infrastructure. The remote code execution capability means that attackers can potentially install backdoors, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate sensitive data from systems that are typically considered isolated from general network traffic. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of system management operations, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to server hardware management interfaces that are designed to be secure and isolated from regular network communications.
The fix implemented in ipmitool version 1.8.19 addresses the core issue by introducing proper input validation mechanisms and enhanced bounds checking for data received from remote LAN parties. This update ensures that all received data is properly sanitized before processing, preventing buffer overflow conditions that could lead to code execution. Organizations should immediately upgrade to version 1.8.19 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as the risk remains high for systems still running affected versions. Security teams should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of ipmitool instances to untrusted networks, while monitoring for potential exploitation attempts through anomalous network traffic patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should be enforced through proper input validation and memory management protocols.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in security-critical applications, particularly those handling network communications. The issue exemplifies how seemingly minor oversights in data validation can lead to severe security consequences, especially when dealing with privileged system tools. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of ipmitool installations and ensure proper patching across their infrastructure. The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution through network services, highlighting the need for robust network monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing should include verification of proper input validation mechanisms in all network-facing applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future software releases.