CVE-2022-28630 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 and integrity, and a partial loss of availability. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability. 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-2022-28630 represents a critical local arbitrary code execution flaw in HPE Integrated Lights-Out 5 (iLO 5) firmware versions prior to 2.71. This remote management interface serves as a fundamental component for server administration and monitoring in enterprise data centers, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to critical infrastructure. The vulnerability exists within the firmware layer of the iLO 5 management processor, which operates independently from the main server operating system and provides out-of-band management capabilities. The flaw allows an unprivileged local user to escalate privileges and execute malicious code with elevated system privileges, effectively compromising the entire server management infrastructure.
This vulnerability operates through a privilege escalation mechanism that enables local attackers to bypass normal access controls and execute arbitrary code within the iLO 5 environment. The technical nature of the flaw suggests an insufficient input validation or improper privilege handling within the firmware's authentication and authorization subsystem. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-269: "Improper Privilege Management" and potentially CWE-787: "Out-of-bounds Write" if the exploitation involves buffer manipulation. The vulnerability requires user interaction to exploit, indicating that the attack vector likely involves some form of local login or session initiation that triggers the privilege escalation mechanism. The attack surface is particularly concerning as iLO 5 interfaces are often accessible through network connections, making local access points potentially reachable through various attack vectors including compromised local accounts or physical access to management interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-28630 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete compromise of system confidentiality, integrity, and availability. A successful exploitation results in full control over the server's management interface, enabling attackers to extract sensitive configuration data, modify system settings, install backdoors, and potentially gain access to the underlying physical hardware. The partial loss of availability occurs because attackers can manipulate the management interface to disrupt normal operations or cause system instability. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1543.003 (Create or Modify System Process) as attackers can execute arbitrary commands and modify system processes through the compromised management interface. The vulnerability also aligns with T1566 (Phishing) if the initial access is gained through social engineering to obtain local credentials, and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as it leverages legitimate local user accounts to escalate privileges.
Organizations should immediately implement the firmware update provided by HPE to address CVE-2022-28630, as version 2.71 or later contains the necessary patches to remediate the privilege escalation vulnerability. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected iLO 5 systems within their infrastructure and ensure proper access controls are implemented at the network level to restrict access to management interfaces. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to isolate management interfaces from general network traffic, enforcing strong authentication controls, and monitoring for unusual management interface activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of firmware security in enterprise infrastructure, as management processors often operate with elevated privileges and provide attack vectors that can bypass traditional operating system security controls. Regular firmware update schedules should be implemented as part of security operations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in critical infrastructure components.