CVE-2021-25136 in Cloudline CL5800 Gen9 Server
Summary
by MITRE
The Baseboard Management Controller(BMC) in HPE Cloudline CL5800 Gen9 Server; HPE Cloudline CL5200 Gen9 Server; HPE Cloudline CL4100 Gen10 Server; HPE Cloudline CL3100 Gen10 Server; HPE Cloudline CL5800 Gen10 Server BMC firmware has a local buffer overlfow in spx_restservice setsolvideoremotestorage_func function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-25136 represents a critical local buffer overflow flaw within the Baseboard Management Controller firmware of several HPE Cloudline server models including CL5800 Gen9, CL5200 Gen9, CL4100 Gen10, CL3100 Gen10, and CL5800 Gen10 servers. This vulnerability resides within the spx_restservice component and specifically affects the setsolvideoremotestorage_func function, which handles remote storage video configuration operations. The buffer overflow occurs when processing user-supplied input without proper bounds checking, creating an exploitable condition that could allow malicious actors with local access to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
This vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes a buffer overflow condition where a fixed-length buffer is accessed beyond its boundaries, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection. The affected BMC firmware provides out-of-band management capabilities that enable remote system monitoring, configuration, and control through standard protocols including IPMI, SSH, and web interfaces. The local nature of this vulnerability means that an attacker must first establish a local presence on the system, typically through legitimate administrative access or physical access to the server, before exploiting the buffer overflow to gain deeper system control. The security implications extend beyond simple code execution as the BMC operates with high system privileges and can potentially provide attackers with root-level access to the underlying hardware management functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for enterprise environments relying on HPE Cloudline servers for critical infrastructure management. Attackers who successfully exploit this buffer overflow could potentially gain complete control over the server's BMC, allowing them to modify system configurations, extract sensitive data, disable security features, or establish persistent backdoors. The BMC's role as a critical management interface means that exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, as the BMC often has access to low-level hardware functions and can potentially bypass traditional operating system security controls. Organizations using these server models should be particularly concerned about supply chain attacks or insider threats, as the vulnerability requires local access to exploit but provides substantial privileges once successfully exploited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-25136 should include immediate firmware updates from HPE to address the buffer overflow condition in the spx_restservice component. System administrators should implement strict access controls for physical and logical access to these servers, as the local nature of the vulnerability means that unauthorized local access represents the primary attack vector. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to BMC management interfaces, and multi-factor authentication should be implemented for all administrative access points. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their BMC configurations and monitor for unusual management activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in firmware components, particularly those handling remote management functions, and serves as a reminder of the critical security requirements for embedded systems and management controllers that operate with elevated privileges.