CVE-2022-28617 in OneView
Summary
by MITRE • 05/18/2022
A remote bypass security restrictions vulnerability was discovered in HPE OneView version(s): Prior to 7.0. HPE has provided a software update to resolve this vulnerability in HPE OneView.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28617 represents a critical security weakness in HPE OneView software that allows remote attackers to bypass established security restrictions. This flaw affects all versions prior to 7.0 of the HPE OneView management platform, which is widely used for infrastructure automation and management in enterprise data centers. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access control mechanisms that permit unauthorized users to circumvent the intended security boundaries of the system. According to HPE's security advisory, this issue enables attackers to gain elevated privileges and access restricted functionality without proper authentication or authorization. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, specifically targeting weak or missing authorization checks in network management systems. This type of flaw is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where HPE OneView serves as a central management point for critical infrastructure components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in the authentication and authorization framework of HPE OneView's web interface and API endpoints. Attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass the normal access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive management functions. The vulnerability likely manifests through improper validation of user credentials or insufficient session management that allows attackers to escalate privileges and gain access to restricted administrative features. This type of security bypass typically occurs when the system fails to properly verify user permissions before granting access to protected resources, creating a path for unauthorized access to system configuration and management capabilities. The flaw may also involve improper handling of API requests where authentication tokens or session identifiers are not adequately validated, allowing attackers to forge access to privileged functions. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it enables remote exploitation without requiring physical access to the system or prior knowledge of valid credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-28617 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate critical infrastructure management functions. Organizations using affected versions of HPE OneView could face complete compromise of their data center management capabilities, potentially allowing attackers to modify system configurations, access sensitive operational data, or even disable critical infrastructure monitoring. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of the management platform, which serves as a central control point for hardware inventory, firmware updates, and system monitoring functions. The consequences could include unauthorized changes to server configurations, compromised security policies, and potential disruption of business operations. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the management platform, making it difficult to detect and remediate the compromise. The vulnerability also poses risks to the broader network infrastructure as HPE OneView typically manages multiple interconnected systems, creating a potential attack surface that could be exploited to gain access to additional network resources. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, and T1566 which involves credential harvesting and exploitation of access control weaknesses.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the software update provided by HPE to address the security restrictions bypass. The remediation process requires upgrading to HPE OneView version 7.0 or later, which includes patches addressing the improper access control mechanisms. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred before the patch was applied. The update process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patched version does not introduce compatibility issues with existing infrastructure management workflows. Organizations should also review their access control policies and implement additional monitoring for unusual authentication patterns or unauthorized access attempts. Network segmentation strategies should be reinforced to limit the potential impact of any remaining vulnerabilities in the environment. Security teams should perform regular audits of user access rights and ensure that only authorized personnel have access to privileged management functions. The implementation of multi-factor authentication and enhanced logging capabilities should be prioritized to strengthen overall security posture. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns consistent with exploitation attempts of access control bypass vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the potential risks associated with running unsupported software versions in enterprise environments. The incident highlights the necessity of continuous security monitoring and rapid response capabilities to address emerging threats in complex infrastructure management systems.