CVE-2022-23702 in Superdome Flex Server
Summary
by MITRE • 04/12/2022
A potential security vulnerability has been identified in HPE Superdome Flex and Superdome Flex 280 Servers. The vulnerability could be locally exploited to allow an user with Administrator access to escalate their privilege. The vulnerability is resolved in the latest firmware update. HPE Superdome Flex Server Version 3.50.58 or later, HPE Superdome Flex 280 Server Version 1.20.204 or later.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-23702 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within HPE Superdome Flex and Superdome Flex 280 server platforms that could be exploited by authenticated users with administrator-level access. This security weakness resides within the firmware implementation of these enterprise-grade server systems, which are designed to provide high availability and mission-critical computing environments for large-scale organizations. The affected systems operate under the assumption that administrative users possess legitimate access rights, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it allows for unauthorized elevation of privileges within an already compromised administrative session.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from insufficient access control mechanisms within the firmware components that manage administrative privileges and user authentication processes. This vulnerability creates a pathway for local attackers who already possess administrator credentials to gain elevated privileges beyond their intended scope. The flaw likely involves improper validation of privilege levels during administrative operations or inadequate enforcement of access control policies within the server's firmware architecture. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically addressing insufficient access control mechanisms that allow privilege escalation. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, suggesting potential buffer overflow conditions or improper memory access during privilege validation processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-23702 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system configurations, modify critical firmware components, and compromise the overall integrity of enterprise computing environments. Organizations utilizing these servers face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential disruption of critical business operations. The vulnerability's local exploitation requirement means that attackers must already have administrative access to the system, but this still represents a serious security weakness given that administrative credentials are often targets for various attack vectors including credential theft, social engineering, or insider threats. The compromise of administrative privileges in enterprise server environments can lead to complete system takeover and data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of the recommended firmware updates, specifically HPE Superdome Flex Server Version 3.50.58 or later, and HPE Superdome Flex 280 Server Version 1.20.204 or later. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected systems within their infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically T1068 Valid Accounts and T1548.001 Abuse Elevation of privilege, making it a target for both insider threat scenarios and external attackers who have gained initial administrative access. Organizations should implement additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized privilege escalation attempts and establish robust change management procedures for firmware updates. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses in other enterprise systems and ensure comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities.