CVE-2022-28627 in iLO 5
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2022
A local arbitrary code execution vulnerability was discovered in HPE Integrated Lights-Out 5 (iLO 5) firmware version(s): Prior to 2.71. An unprivileged user could locally exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code resulting in a complete loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. HPE has provided a firmware update to resolve this vulnerability in HPE Integrated Lights-Out 5 (iLO 5).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-28627 represents a critical local arbitrary code execution flaw in HPE Integrated Lights-Out 5 remote management firmware. This issue affects versions prior to 2.71 and demonstrates a fundamental security weakness that allows unprivileged local users to escalate their privileges and execute malicious code on the system. The vulnerability resides within the firmware implementation of the iLO 5 management processor, which is designed to provide out-of-band management capabilities for HPE servers. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor for local attackers who can leverage this weakness to gain complete control over the management interface, thereby compromising the entire system's security posture.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege separation mechanisms within the iLO 5 firmware. When an unprivileged user accesses the local management interface, the system fails to properly verify the user's privileges before executing certain operations that should be restricted to administrative users. This design flaw enables attackers to manipulate system calls or bypass authentication mechanisms that should normally prevent unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the firmware level, meaning that traditional operating system security controls may not be sufficient to prevent exploitation. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in privilege management and input validation, specifically categorized under CWE-284 for improper access control and CWE-78 for OS command injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete compromise of the affected system. Once exploited, the attacker gains full administrative control over the iLO 5 management interface, which can then be used to establish persistent access, exfiltrate sensitive data, modify system configurations, or even disable security features. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability triad are all compromised simultaneously since the vulnerability allows for complete system takeover. This represents a severe risk to enterprise environments where iLO 5 is used for server management, as attackers could potentially gain access to multiple servers within a data center through a single successful exploitation. The attack surface is particularly wide given that iLO 5 is commonly deployed in mission-critical infrastructure where unauthorized access could result in significant operational disruption and data breaches.
Security practitioners should immediately implement the firmware update provided by HPE to address this vulnerability. The remediation process involves upgrading to firmware version 2.71 or later, which includes patched code that properly validates user privileges and prevents unauthorized code execution. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging controls around iLO 5 management interfaces to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation strategies should be reviewed to limit access to management interfaces, and privilege escalation controls should be enforced through proper access management policies. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and defense evasion, making it particularly dangerous in environments where attackers might attempt to establish persistent access through management interfaces. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all management interfaces are properly updated and secured against similar threats.